Platform workers in Singapore recently raised their concerns with NTUC about foreigners illegally doing delivery work. Their complaints have revealed more than just security loopholes – they have exposed the deep-seated anxieties of local platform workers about the security of their livelihoods.
Singapore has very strict employment regulations and stiff penalties for illegal work. Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), foreign workers are only permitted to work in Singapore with valid work passes and must strictly adhere to the occupations specified in their passes. Those flouting these rules face fines of up to $20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. Additionally, convicted offenders may be permanently barred from working in Singapore.
Mathew Mathews is principal research fellow and head, Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore. Tan Lyn Cai is a research assistant at the same institute.
This piece was first published in The Straits Times on 18 July 2025.