Foreigners working illegally as delivery riders will be one of the issues addressed by a new workgroup formed by the Government and Grab.
According to an NTUC press release on Friday (4 July), the new trilateral group will comprise the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Transport (MOT), NTUC, and Grab.
Picture for illustration purposes only.
It will be headed by:
In a Facebook post on the same day, Mr Ng said he met platform workers, who shared their “tough, real-life” concerns.
One of their concerns was foreigners working as delivery riders illegally, some by misusing accounts on platforms like Grab.
Others were taking on jobs from outsourced companies even though they do not hold valid work permits, according to the feedback, Mr Ng noted, adding:
This directly affects the earnings and job opportunities of legitimate delivery workers in Singapore.
Source: Ng Chee Meng on Facebook
In the NTUC statement, Mr Ng called for a trilateral workgroup to address the issue of foreign delivery riders, among other challenges faced by platform workers.
He noted that it is illegal for foreigners to accept delivery jobs on platforms, as platform work can only be undertaken by Singaporeans.
While platform operators — like Grab — can outsource jobs to companies that are allowed to hire foreigners with work permits, foreigners without the relevant work permits were purportedly seen doing these jobs.
He said Singapore’s platform workers are “vulnerable” and face many challenges in earning a living, adding:
It is not right that they suffer from reduced earnings due to competition from illegal workers… Our platform workers must be treated fairly as they make an honest living.
NTUC said the workgroup aims to “provide a regular opportunity for the Government to resolve issues that may require their intervention”.
In a joint statement on Friday, MOM and MOT said they will collectively address platform workers’ challenges and safeguard their well-being, given “the rapidly evolving platform economy”.
It also lauded Grab’s participation in the group, adding that it “sends a strong signal” on the platform operators’ commitment to collaborate with the Government and NTUC “to address salient issues”.
Other platform operations could also join in future, with the statement saying the group will “explore” bringing them into the discussions subsequently.
In a statement to MS News, a Grab spokesperson said the company was “committed” to safeguarding platform workers’ livelihoods and finding ways to “stamp out illegal delivery services”.
Adding that it has measures in place to bar foreigners from registering, Grab pledged to work with the Government, NTUC and other operators to protect platform workers.
This will be by sharing and co-developing best practices, the spokesperson said, adding:
Together, we will support the development of a sustainable platform economy that continues to deliver value to both platform workers and consumers.
Also read: Man Shames Alleged Non-S’porean Food Delivery Riders, Receives Backlash From Netizens
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Featured image from NTUC.