Govt Forms Group to Tackle Issue of Foreigners Doing Delivery Jobs Illegally

NTUC Says Some Misuse Accounts to Take on Work, Others Have No Work Permits

- Tham Yuen-C

A work group has been formed by the Government, following a call by the labour movement to tackle the issue of foreigners illegally doing delivery work here and impacting the earnings of platform workers.

The trilateral work group consists of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Grab Singapore, as well as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) along with its affiliated associations.

In a joint statement on July 4, MOM and MOT said that the group will be overseen by Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, and Grab's group managing director of operations Yee Wee Tang.

This comes after Mr Ng had earlier on July 4 called on the Government to form such a work group to address the issue, as well as other challenges facing platform workers, who contract with platform operators to provide services, primarily in ride hailing and delivery.

Their ranks here include private-hire drivers working for companies like Grab and Gojek, and delivery riders for services like GrabFood, foodpanda and Deliveroo.

Mr Ng said in a statement: "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."