SINGAPORE – Three foreigners have been arrested for working illegally in Singapore after enforcement operations conducted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) checked more than 370 delivery workers.
In a Facebook post on Aug 18, Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Koh Poh Koon said MOM conducted islandwide enforcement operations over the past few weeks.
The operations were conducted based on complaints and feedback on hot spots from the National Delivery Champions Association’s regular engagement with delivery workers, the post said.
“Of the 375 delivery workers checked during our operations, three foreigners were arrested and under investigation for working illegally,” said Dr Koh.
He added that MOM is also investigating the locals who abetted these foreigners to undertake illegal delivery work.
Foreigners who work in Singapore without a valid work pass may be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Local abettors who allow foreigners to use their accounts may face the same penalties, added Dr Koh.
“These operations are essential to deter illegal platform work, even as the Platform Workers Trilateral Group develops its recommendations,” he said.
In July, a trilateral work group was formed following a call by the labour movement to tackle the issue of foreigners illegally doing delivery work here and impacting the earnings of local platform workers.
The work group consists of MOM, Ministry of Transport and Grab Singapore, as well as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) along with its affiliated associations.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, a Deliveroo spokesperson said Deliveroo takes a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised account sharing.
“All riders are required to provide valid documentation during onboarding to verify their right to work as a platform worker in Singapore and pass facial verification checks against their provided identification documents,” said the firm.
After this process, riders are subject to regular, and necessary, supplementary randomised facial recognition checks, the spokesperson said.
A check by ST on online marketplace Carousell on Aug 18 found a Deliveroo account listed for rental. The account is listed for $150.
The online listing states that only Singaporeans and permanent residents can rent the account.
PHOTO: ST READER
The Straits Times has contacted Deliveroo for more information on this.
A spokesperson from delivery platform foodpanda said the firm takes swift action against any attempts to bypass security systems, including suspension, blacklisting or regulatory reporting.
“We welcome ongoing efforts by the Government, NTUC, NDCA (National Delivery Champions Association) and fellow platform operators to tackle illegal delivery work, and remain committed to working together to uphold platform integrity and protect the livelihoods of legitimate delivery partners,” the spokesperson added.
Delivery platform Grab said it also conducts random checks through its selfie verification system to deter drivers from sharing their account with others.
“Delivery partners who fail these authentication checks will not be able to receive new delivery jobs from Grab,” it added.
People found sharing their accounts will receive a formal warning for the first offence, followed by a two-week suspension for the second offence and a termination on the third offence, said a spokesperson from Grab.
When asked about protection for foreigners working illegally on the platform, the spokesperson said: “Foreigners who work illegally on the platform are not eligible for any coverage, as they are not recognised participants in the platform economy.”
From January to December 2024, MOM received and investigated around 90 complaints on suspected illegal foreign delivery drivers. Enforcement actions were taken against 30 foreigners while the remaining cases were found to be unsubstantiated.
Food delivery servicesForeign workersIllegal workers
