Recently ranked in the top 20 gig economy platforms in the world for protecting temporary and contract workers from the impact of Covid-19, South Africa’s M4Jam has now taken another step forward with personal accident cover for all location-based jobs sourced through the platform.
Temporary, freelance and contract workers have borne the brunt of ballooning unemployment in the wake of Covid-19, but M4Jam has picked up international plaudits for its policies on fair pay, fair working conditions and fair management.
M4Jam links jobbers with training and work tasks when organisations need micro-tasks completed allowing jobbers to either earn all their income or an additional income through the platform. M4Jam has partnered with Shomang Insurance Brokers and Bryte Insurance to offer personal accident cover for any injuries that might occur when completing a job on-site or location-based task. The policy takes effect every time a job is accepted off the M4Jam platform.
This is a first for the South African gig economy and represents another step towards being recognised as a sector which, while offering alternative earning opportunities, also cares about the health and safety of the workers. “For years temporary and contract work has been seen as the poor relation of permanent employment because of the lack of employee benefits. We are quickly moving towards a situation where jobbers can feel comfortable and safe accepting tasks because they know they are backed up by our fair work practises and policies,” says Georgie Midgley, M4Jam CEO.
“We have done all we can to cushion our registered jobbers from the impact of Covid-19 through providing financial assistance and personal protection assistance, and now we are ensuring that no jobber has to bear the burden of injuries while completing tasks coordinated by the platform. We are both excited and proud to be announcing this innovation in South Africa,” she says.
M4Jam is the registered policy holder, given the complexity of insuring a broad and diverse jobber database. This also serves in simplifying the claim process in the event of an injury occurring while completing a job or task on-site. All that is required of the jobber is to complete and submit a digital claim form available from the app and follow the necessary guidelines. M4Jam will provide ongoing support through the process to ensure a hassle-free claim experience.
Each jobber is covered from acceptance of the job to 8pm the same day, which allows for an hour grace period to commute back home. The insurance policy covers accidental death, permanent disablement, medical emergency, disappearance and other potential costs.
“This is a major step in securing the rights of temporary workers and their beneficiaries and is a great drawcard for the gig economy as a viable alternative to permanent employment in a country that has struggled so desperately with unemployment,” says Midgley.