Trilateral group unveils tougher measures to shield platform workers from illegal competition and unsafe practices

Singapore’s platform workers will be better protected from illegal foreign competition and unsafe working conditions under 10 new recommendations released by the Platform Workers Trilateral Group, comprising NTUC, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Transport (MOT), and Grab Singapore.

The recommendations, announced on 11 September 2025 at a media conference, target two key concerns raised by taxi drivers, private-hire drivers, and delivery workers: unauthorised activities that undercut local workers’ earnings and incentive structures that may encourage unsafe working practices.

The Platform Workers Trilateral Group was formed in July following calls by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng for action to address challenges faced by Singapore’s 70,000-plus platform workers.

Since then, the group has engaged eight other major platform operators, including Deliveroo, foodpanda, AmazonFlex, Lalamove, ComfortDelGro Zig, Gojek, TADA, and Ryde, as well as the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), to build industry consensus on tackling common challenges.

Enforcement against illegal activities

The recommendations include strengthened enforcement measures and stricter penalties for illegal platform work.

Platform operators must now notify MOM if they suspect workers are allowing foreigners to misuse their accounts. If MOM establishes an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, all platform operators will ban the worker for a minimum of 24 months.

For illegal ride-hailing services, the Government will push for stronger deterrence, including increased penalties. It will also work to disrupt matching services by taking down apps, channels, and advertisements that facilitate illegal rides.

Food delivery platforms will conduct more frequent identity verification checks and require outsourcing companies to submit work pass documentation for foreign workers.

National Development and Transport Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling highlighted the multi-stakeholder approach needed to tackle illegal platform work.

“The Government, Platform Work Associations, Platform Operators and the general public have a part to play,” she said, adding that the trilateral group’s “robust discussions” had resulted in actionable recommendations.

The scale of illegal activities varies by sector.

Since July, enforcement operations have caught 73 foreign-registered vehicles providing illegal ride-hailing services. However, in the delivery sector, only four out of 644 workers checked were found to be working illegally, with most foreigners being legitimate work pass holders employed under outsourcing arrangements.

Mr Ng said the enforcement efforts had yielded tangible results for platform workers.

“We heard from some of our drivers that their income increased by 10 to 15 per cent for PHV drivers, and up to 30 per cent for cross-border taxi drivers,” he said.

Safer incentive structures

The recommendations also address concerns about incentive schemes that may encourage platform workers to work excessively long hours, potentially compromising safety.

Platform operators and Platform Work Associations (PWAs) will develop industry-wide principles for payment and incentive schemes and identify key information to provide workers to address income uncertainty.

NTUC principles for fair earnings

In an immediate implementation of the trilateral group’s recommendations, NTUC and its affiliated PWAs announced new principles for fair earnings and safe incentive schemes, which all nine platform operators engaged by the trilateral group have agreed to adopt.

The principles establish that incentives should complement overall earnings but not constitute a substantial portion of a platform worker’s income.

Where structural changes to incentive schemes are expected to impact earnings materially, platforms are encouraged to engage with worker associations to ensure visibility and support constructive discussions.

The principles also stipulate that incentive programmes should follow health and safety guidelines developed by the Workplace Safety and Health Council and MOM, ensuring they do not encourage workers to work excessively long periods without adequate rest.

“Just like all other workers, platform workers want assurance that they are paid fairly for their effort and time,” Mr Ng said, highlighting concerns about transparency in payment structures.

Phased implementation

The recommendations will be implemented in phases, given varying complexities.

Some measures have already been launched, including dedicated reporting channels for platform workers and the public to report violations through LTA’s OneMotoring website for illegal ride-hailing services and MOM’s infringement webpage for illegal delivery work.

Health and Manpower Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon emphasised the collaborative nature of the effort.

“Supporting the welfare of our platform workers is a collective responsibility. By working hand-in-hand, we will be able to do more to safeguard the livelihood, safety, and well-being of platform workers,” he said.

The trilateral group was made possible by the Platform Workers Act (PW Act), which took effect on 1 January 2025 to strengthen protections for platform workers.

The act allows NTUC-affiliated PWAs to represent workers formally in negotiations with operators and provides legal frameworks for collective agreements.

The recommendations are based on three principles: being practicable and sustainable while retaining platform ecosystem advantages, safeguarding platform workers’ livelihoods and well-being, and fostering collaboration between the Government, worker associations, platform operators, and workers.

Grab’s Group Managing Director of Operations, Yee Wee Tang, said: “Grab is deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Government, associations, and fellow platform operators in co-developing these recommendations.

“As a company, we are fully committed to holding ourselves accountable and playing our part in raising industry standards to support platform workers better.”

Want stronger representation and protection as a platform worker?

NTUC and its Platform Work Associations have secured real wins for members – from stopping unfair incentive changes to gaining priority booking over outsourced workers.

Join your relevant association to strengthen our collective voice:

National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) for private-hire drivers

National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) for delivery workers