SINGAPORE: Three foreigners have been arrested for allegedly working illegally as delivery riders, following islandwide operations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in recent weeks.
Senior Minister of State for Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon confirmed the arrests in a Facebook post on 18 Aug 2025.
He explained that the enforcement checks were triggered by feedback from the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) regarding specific hotspots.
Around 375 delivery workers were inspected during the operations, which led to the arrests. MOM said the individuals are now under investigation for suspected illegal work activities.
Authorities are also probing locals who allegedly abetted the foreigners in undertaking delivery jobs without valid work permits, Koh added.
The arrests follow growing concerns about foreigners engaging in unauthorised platform work, which caused frustration among local delivery workers, who argue it results in unfair competition.
The issue is currently under study by the Platform Workers Trilateral Group, formed in July.
The group is expected to deliver recommendations by the end of the year.
One focus is addressing platform workers’ concerns about fair competition, particularly regarding outsourcing practices and illegal participation in the sector.
Koh stressed that enforcement remains critical alongside ongoing policy reviews.
“These operations are essential to deter illegal platform work, even as the Platform Workers Trilateral Group develops its recommendations,” he said.
He added that MOM would continue partnering NDCA to safeguard delivery workers’ interests.
NDCA executive secretary Andy Ang said the association regularly collects feedback from riders and shares information about hotspots with MOM.
He affirmed that NDCA would continue to collaborate with the ministry on future enforcement efforts.
NDCA, an affiliated association of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), represents freelancers working as food and parcel delivery riders.
NTUC has consistently highlighted that foreigners misusing accounts to secure delivery jobs undermines legitimate workers.
While platform operators are allowed to outsource delivery work to companies employing foreign workers with valid permits, NTUC noted that some foreigners bypass these rules and operate independently. This is prohibited and regarded as illegal work.
Such practices not only breach labour laws but also disadvantage local riders who rely on delivery jobs.
Foreigners convicted of working without a valid work pass may face fines of up to S$20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
They will also be permanently barred from working in Singapore.
Locals who allow foreigners to use their accounts to work illegally face the same penalties, MOM warned.
NTUC further emphasised that illegal participation in the platform economy compounds broader challenges.
Riders are already contending with income instability due to opaque job allocation algorithms and incentive schemes encouraging longer hours, which pose safety risks.
Additionally, unauthorised ride-hailing services facilitated through messaging platforms like Telegram have worsened the problem, diverting earnings from drivers on regulated platforms.
MOM and the Ministry of Transport said the newly established work group would address these issues comprehensively.
They emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to protect platform workers’ welfare in the evolving gig economy.
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