NDCA conducts joint enforcement exercise with MOM to curb illegal delivery riders

The National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) and the Manpower Ministry (MOM) conducted a joint enforcement operation on 11 August 2025 at a popular hotspot to curb illegal delivery services. NDCA is the platform worker association representing the rights of Singaporean delivery riders.

According to Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon’s Facebook post on 18 August 2025, the operation is one of several organised to clamp down on illegal delivery riders in recent weeks, based on feedback from NDCA.

Among the 375 delivery workers inspected during the checks on separate days, three foreigners were arrested and are under investigation for illegal work. The Government is also investigating the locals who facilitated the illegal arrangements.

Under the law, foreigners working in Singapore without a valid work pass may face a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Locals who allow foreigners to use their accounts may also face the same penalties.

This joint action comes in response to mounting concerns from local delivery riders whose earnings have been affected by illegal delivery activities.

“Today’s joint enforcement with MOM is our next step in taking action. By working together, we make sure legal delivery workers can earn fairly and without unfair competition. We are appreciative that most of the platform workers we met are encouraged and supportive.  

“We learnt the enforcement is not easy to do, and we thank MOM for partnering us in this important work. We will continue to work together with MOM to conduct more checks at different hotspots,” said NDCA Executive Secretary Andy Ang, who participated in the joint exercise. 

NDCA sheds light on illegal delivery services

Mr Ang shared that the issue of delivery jobs being performed illegally by foreigners was raised through the association’s regular engagements with local delivery workers.

According to him, NDCA members had highlighted that some accounts were being shared with family members and friends or rented out to foreigners. This illegal practice also violates the rider policies of delivery platform operators, such as Grab, GoGoX and Lalamove.

The NDCA executive secretary pointed out that the problem of illegal deliverers is further complicated by some platform operators outsourcing high-demand jobs that locals cannot fill.

He explained that when operators legally outsource jobs to a vendor, the vendor can employ Singaporeans. Additionally, they can hire foreigners once the quota for Singaporeans has been met.

Since the outsourced vendor legally employs the foreigner, the relationship between the foreigner and vendor becomes that of a traditional employer-employee contract of service. Therefore, these foreigners will also have valid work permits, allowing them to do deliveries.

Local riders who are unaware of the lawful outsourcing practice may mistakenly believe that foreigners are illegally taking their jobs.

“The job may no longer be a platform job, but the platform workers may not see the difference. [The Singaporean platform worker] may think, ‘Why is this foreigner doing the job? I thought jobs were reserved for Singaporeans.’

“Even if they know [that it is legal], they will also feel that the platform operator is trying to bypass the law,” Mr Ang explained.

The absence of a consistent account verification standard across platform operators also encourages account misuse.

“Some platform operators require riders to verify their faces before they start the job, but verification standards vary across platforms. One operator may ask for verification two or three times a day, another may ask for it once a day at the start of a job. So, while facial recognition is needed, it is at different intensities and frequencies,” Mr Ang elaborated.

NDCA is assessing the feedback and working towards tackling these issues through the new trilateral workgroup.

Trilateral workgroup to provide added protection

A trilateral workgroup was announced on 4 July 2025 to tackle illegal delivery services and other issues platform workers face in response to NTUC’s calls on the same day.

The workgroup comprises MOM, the Ministry of Transport, Grab Singapore, other platform operators, as well as NTUC and its affiliated platform worker associations.

“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,” said NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng.

NTUC added that platform workers are also pressured by incentive schemes that encourage longer working hours and can potentially lead to safety issues. Additionally, the jobs allocated to them through platform apps are often uncertain, resulting in a lack of clarity that can impact their earnings.

NDCA members who spot illegal activities can reach out to the association directly. Not an NDCA member yet? Contact the association at ndca@ntuc.org.sg to have a say in your livelihood.