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The guide aims to address critical areas such as insurance coverage, termination clauses, and dispute resolution mechanisms, which will help drivers avoid common pitfalls whilst understanding their rights and responsibilities.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit (U FSE) has launched a guide aimed at assisting private hire, taxi, and delivery drivers in navigating the complexities of vehicle leasing agreements.
Launched on 2 September 2024, this initiative will directly support the following members of the NTUC-affiliated associations:
- National Taxi Association (NTA)
- National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA)
- National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA)
Recognising the widespread reliance on leased vehicles among platform workers in these associations, U FSE collaborated with NTUC Legal Services, Pro Bono SG, and LawWorks, with additional support from key stakeholders such as the Land Transport Authority and Enterprise Singapore (ESG).
This collaboration will aim to ensure that the guide will be enriched with insights from both regulatory bodies and industry experts and offer a well-rounded perspective on vehicle leasing practices.
Titled Guide on interpreting vehicle leasing agreements, the guide equips platform workers with essential knowledge to understand leasing terms, make informed decisions, and negotiate better deals.
Moreover, it addresses critical areas such as insurance coverage, termination clauses, and dispute resolution mechanisms, helping drivers to avoid common pitfalls while understanding their rights and responsibilities.
Additionally, the guide offers practical advice on handling various situations, such as vehicle inspections and accidents.
The guide will entail the following contents:
- Basic terms of vehicle leasing agreement
- duration of rental
- rental fees structure
- late payments
- security deposits
- termination
- rental waiver
- vehicle maintenance
- insurance coverage
- fuel charges
- mileage limits
- additional driver fees
- automatic renewal clauses
- dispute resolution mechanisms & avenues for assistance
- Insurance coverage
- personal accident insurance
- collision damage waiver
- theft protection
- supplemental liability protection
- coverage to drive to Malaysia
- What to do if you meet with an accident
- what do to at the accident site
- what not to do at the accident site
- what to do immediately after the accident
- Checklist for drivers and riders
NTUC Director of Freelancers and Self-Employed Jean See cited the guide as "a significant step in empowering platform workers" who rely on leased vehicles with the knowledge to make informed decisions and protect their interests when entering into leasing agreements.
"As the nature of platform work continues to change, NTUC and U FSE remain committed to developing innovative resources that will help to address the challenges faced by our members.”
This guide comes is the latest of a series of announcements made around platform workers in Singapore. On 29 August, NTUC shared plans to establish a new Platform Work Associations (PWAs) scheme that is aimed to enhance the representation and safeguarding of the livelihoods of platform workers once the Platform Workers Bill is enacted.
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