Trilateral Workgroup to address illegal competition against platform delivery workers

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), together with our affiliated Platform Work Associations (PWAs) – the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), and the National Taxi Association (NTA) – have consistently championed the interests of platform workers. Our advocacy efforts resulted in the Platform Workers Act being passed in September 2024.

Following the legislative success, NTUC and our affiliated PWAs continued to advocate for platform workers on a variety of platforms. Our Labour Members of Parliament, including Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Yeo Wan Ling, ASG Melvin Yong, as well as former Nominated Member of Parliament Jean See, have regularly engaged platform workers in dialogues and spoken up for them in Parliament. Issues raised include concerns about certainty in platform workers’ earnings, safety concerns, as well as competition from illegal hitch service providers.

Challenges remain for platform workers

Through our regular engagements, NTUC and our affiliated PWAs have received feedback that some delivery jobs are being performed by foreigners illegally. Some of these foreigners illegally take on delivery jobs directly on platforms by misusing accounts. This is not allowed, as platform work can only be undertaken by Singaporeans. In addition, platform operators can outsource delivery jobs to other companies. These companies are allowed to hire foreigners with work permits. However, there are reports of some foreigners performing delivery jobs illegally without work permits. This creates illegal or unfair competition for our delivery workers, and it has a direct impact on their earnings.

This issue comes on top of the other challenges that our platform workers already face:

• Income stability and assurance: Platform workers can be subjected to incentive schemes that encourage longer working hours, which can lead to safety issues. The type of jobs allocated to them on platform apps is also uncertain, e.g. the distance allocated for a specific type of delivery mode could be too far. These lead to a lack of clarity on their earnings, causing platform workers to grapple with a lack of income security.

   

• Illegal hitch services: Unauthorised ride-hailing services operating through messaging apps like Telegram are directly impacting workers' earnings. These illegal services undercut legitimate platform workers' job opportunities, creating unfair competition that affects workers' ability to earn sustainable earnings.

Secretary-General of NTUC, Mr Ng Chee Meng, said, “Our platform workers are vulnerable, as they face a variety of challenges in making a living. It is not right that they suffer from reduced earnings due to competition from illegal workers. That is why I am calling for a trilateral workgroup to address this issue and other challenges that our platform workers face. Our platform workers must be treated fairly as they make an honest living.”

There is a need for urgent action on the issue of foreigners performing delivery jobs illegally. NTUC has called for a trilateral workgroup to address this issue, as well as other challenges that platform workers are facing. Grab Singapore, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Transport will work with NTUC and our affiliated associations in this workgroup. Together, let us work together to build an ecosystem that allows platform workers to earn fair and sustainable wages.