● With this, every major food delivery, taxi and ride-hailing platform operator1 in Singapore now recognises an NTUC-affiliated platform work association, so platform workers across all three sectors can now be formally represented on their welfare and work concerns.
● To commemorate the formal recognition, NDCA and foodpanda also launched a pilot fitting retroreflective strips on delivery bags for 1,000 delivery partners on two-wheelers, including bicycles and power-assisted bicycles (PABs), to assess if better visibility of smaller vehicles on the roads can reduce accidents and work injuries.
The National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), a platform work association affiliated to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), has been formally recognised by foodpanda today to represent its platform delivery workers under the Platform Workers Act.
foodpanda Singapore Logistics Director Ervin Lim and NDCA Executive Secretary Andy Ang signed the recognition agreement at a closed-door engagement at foodpanda's office, witnessed by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and foodpanda Singapore Managing Director Bhavani Mishra.
NDCA and foodpanda have worked closely together since signing a memorandum of understanding in 2025, building a strong foundation for ongoing engagement with the delivery partner community.
The recognition gives NDCA legal standing under the Platform Workers Act as the sole negotiating body for foodpanda's delivery partners, representing them on key matters relating to their welfare, safety, working conditions and the resolution of work-related disputes.
NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said, "NTUC and our three Platform Work Associations have been actively representing platform workers’ interests and welfare for years. The Platform Workers Act gave our associations the legal backing to negotiate collectively for platform workers across the delivery, taxi and ride-hailing sectors; better represent them in disputes; and provide them with better support services. With foodpanda's recognition of NDCA, every major delivery platform operator in Singapore now recognises an NTUC-affiliated association representing its platform workers. Recognition is only a start. What matters now is for our associations to serve even more platform workers. As more platform workers join NDCA, the stronger their collective voice will be, and the better we can take their concerns to our tripartite partners and work towards improved welfare and better work conditions."
foodpanda Singapore Managing Director Bhavani Mishra said, "This partnership formalises a relationship that has already delivered real, meaningful results on safety and welfare, while giving our delivery partners a structured voice so we can continue shaping solutions together for their welfare and day-to-day work conditions."
A Formal Channel for foodpanda Delivery Partners to Be Represented
The recognition builds on foodpanda’s panda hearts programme, which supports delivery partners across safety, well-being, personal development, community and welfare. In 2026, foodpanda has committed more than S$600,000 to initiatives supporting the delivery partner community.
To mark the formal recognition and encourage membership participation, foodpanda will offer six months of complimentary NDCA membership to delivery partners who sign up as new members, giving them direct access to representation, association benefits, and support.
NDCA President Ng Gan Poh, who is a full-time delivery rider himself said, "This is what I do for a living, so I know what this means for us as delivery partners. We have been working with foodpanda for some time, and our delivery partners have already felt the positive impact in the engagement and training sessions. Recognition lets us build on that. To every platform delivery partner on foodpanda, I encourage you to join NDCA, so we can build a stronger collective voice and represent you where it matters."
Joint Pilot to Study Improved Visibility of Two-wheelers on Roads During Last-mile
NDCA and foodpanda also launched a pilot to fit retroreflective strips on delivery bags for 1,000 delivery partners on two-wheelers. Made to the same specification used on road signage, the strips reflect light from vehicle headlamps and street lighting, helping delivery partners become more visible to motorists approaching from behind.
The pilot is part of a joint study examining whether improved visibility of delivery partners on two-wheelers, including bicycles and power-assisted bicycles (PABs), can support safer journeys on the road.
Over a period of six months, the study will assess if the retro-reflective strips improve delivery partners’ sense of safety, whether there are reductions in accidents, reported injuries and work injury compensation claims, and if delivery partners would be willing to adopt them. If the study findings are positive, NDCA and foodpanda will explore opportunities to expand the initiative more broadly across the industry.
NDCA Executive Secretary Andy Ang said, "Today marks a new chapter for our members who work for foodpanda. Recognition lets us represent them formally, and we intend to make it count. Safety and welfare go hand in hand. So if the retroreflective strips are shown to reduce injuries, we want them on every delivery partner in Singapore.”
The study comes amid continued concerns over road safety for platform workers, with vehicular incidents accounting for 38 of the 44 fatal and major injuries involving platform workers in the first half of 2026.
With safety being a key pillar of panda hearts, foodpanda recently launched the "Ride Smart, Ride Safe" video series to make practical safety education readily available to the wider delivery partner community. The series provides guidance on road, weather and delivery safety. In partnership with NDCA, foodpanda is also rolling out first-aid certification with NTUC LearningHub and the next instalment of motorbike safety courses with the Riding Safety Association of Singapore (RSAS) this month.
Beyond road safety, panda hearts supports the broader well-being of delivery partners through initiatives such as bursaries for them and their families, and foodpanda’s annual pandarider awards, which recognises their contributions to the community.
1 foodpanda and Grab in food delivery; ComfortDelGro, Trans-Cab in taxi; and CDG Zig, Gojek, Grab and TADA in ride-hailing.
