From Rides to Rights: The power of Platform Work Associations in improving livelihoods

Once regarded as side hustle or a temporary fallback for when you lose your job, ride-hailing and delivery work is fast gaining momentum as a popular career choice.

Ride-hailing and delivery platforms first made their appearance in Singapore during the early 2010s, when operators like Grab and foodpanda introduced flexible, freelance app-based jobs, forever changing the local gig work landscape.

By 2024, the Manpower Ministry’s data indicated that there were about 67,600 platform workers in Singapore, making up around 2.7 per cent of the workforce. Of these, 20,800 were taxi drivers, 31,800 were private-hire drivers, and 15,300 were delivery workers.

Today, the landmark Platform Workers Act is among the first in the world to offer platform workers statutory protections, such as CPF and work insurance, similar to those of regular employees. A big advantage of this arrangement is that platform workers can still enjoy the flexibility associated with freelance work while still being protected.

The most important aspect of the law is that it empowers associations supporting platform workers with the legal mandate to represent them collectively in workplace matters and grievances. This ensures that platform workers’ voices are heard, and their rights are protected effectively.

The groundbreaking support for platform workers would not have been possible without the efforts of the NTUC-affiliated Platform Work Associations (PWAs)—the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), and the National Taxi Association (NTA). Knowing the precarity of platform work, these associations have worked with quiet urgency alongside their workers to bring the law to fruition.

A stronger voice for platform workers

NDCA, NPHVA and NTA were formed to look after the interests of ride-hailing drivers, delivery riders and cab drivers before the Platform Workers Act came into effect in 2025. Their notable track record includes advocacy and various support measures to improve members’ lives.

As the official PWAs, they were granted unprecedented union-like powers under the law this year to legally represent platform workers and negotiate collective agreements (CA) with platform operators.

To organise the workers, the associations must first seek formal recognition from the platform operators as legal bodies representing their riders and drivers.

According to the usual practice, once the recognition is official, the associations can start to bargain better terms and conditions for their workers as a group through the CAs. The CA can cover key terms such as fair compensation, working conditions, and grievance handling processes—areas where platform workers had no legal collective representation previously.

“Previously, when we approached platform operators, it is out of goodwill that that they talk to us. Today, with platform operators recognising us, they are obliged to meet us if we send them a formal notification to negotiate or discuss,” NPHVA Executive Secretary Raven Lee explained.

“In the past, we managed to negotiate better working conditions for our platform workers due to the good labour-management relationship we have with some of our platform companies. However, the recognition gives us the legal mandate for us to talk to the companies. And the companies must talk to us when there's an issue,” NDCA Executive Secretary Andy Ang added.

“When the companies want to make changes to their policies, they also have to inform us,” NTA Executive Secretary Teo Siew Pan added further.

Mr Lee pointed out that such a formal channel is important for workers because it maintains industrial harmony, ensures accountability, and resolves disputes efficiently by providing a structured path to address issues at an appropriate level.

As each association serves different worker groups, the platform operators are expected to recognise them individually. For instance, Grab has given recognition to NPHVA for their ride-hailing drivers, and NDCA for its food and parcel delivery workers.

NDCA Executive Secretary Andy Ang (left), NPHVA Executive Secretary Raven Lee (right) and PWA Advisor Yeo Wan Ling (in red) with Grab representatives at the Grab recognition event on 7 March 2025.

To date, several key operators, including Grab, ComfortDelgro Zig, TADA, Gojek, Lalamove, and GoGoX have welcomed the PWAs. The associations are currently securing formal recognition from more platform operators.

NTA was officially recognised by Trans-Cab Services (SMILE RIDE platform) on 12 August 2025. NTA Executive Secretary Teo Siew Pan (holding document) with association and operator representatives at the event.

Unlike negotiations for regular employees, which often include fixed items like medical leave, Ms Teo explained that there is more flexibility in reviewing platform work items, like incentives, more frequently when needed. This approach allows for adjustments while still maintaining core concerns that are essential for worker welfare.

Mr Ang shared that they are in the process of forming branch committees under the platform operators that have recognised them. Like a union, these branch committees will consist of a group of worker leaders who will raise concerns based on feedback from their members.

For the CAs, Mr Lee is exploring the idea of including the NTUC union membership as an added work benefit. He said that members can utilise benefits, such as the Union Training Assistance Programme to defray personal training costs and the NTUC GIFT life insurance policy for more protection.

Associations working with the Government

Singapore’s brand of tripartism involves rallying the Government, employers and worker representatives together to resolve worker-related issues and challenges.

Over the years, the PWAs have been involved in various tripartite groups to address issues platform workers face on the road.

For instance, the three associations played an important role in shaping the Platform Workers legislation, providing valuable ground feedback and insights from their members.

More recently, NDCA, NPHVA, and NTA are involved in the discussions of the trilateral workgroup formed to tackle the latest problems platform workers face.

According to the associations, a common issue that they plan to raise in the workgroup is fare transparency. Very often, workers do not know how much they earn from the actual fee charged to customers.

“Platform workers need more clarity on the fare components and commission rates to make informed decisions on the trips they take and their earning potential,” NPHVA’s Mr Lee explained.

NTA’s Ms Teo said that workers are concerned that excessive commissions may be unfair to drivers and want clarity on how these commissions are calculated.

“We have been hearing complaints that certain platforms are giving low fares to drivers,” she added.

She also plans to raise the topic of incentive schemes that encourages taxi drivers to work longer working hours to meet targets, taking a toll on their safety.

Meanwhile, NDCA’s Mr Ang is concerned about the issue of unauthorised account sharing to illegal foreign workers or friends and family members. This wrongful practice affects the earnings of Singaporean delivery riders, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and enforcement.

“We sit on the table as equals. We bring forth workers’ feedback, concerns and unhappiness on these issues to seek answers from platform operators. We also try to understand their point of view.

“The Ministry of Manpower can come in from the legislation and policy angles, but there are also many issues that should be points of negotiation or collaboration between platform work associations and platform operators,” he said.

Delivering better welfare and career progression

Beyond work, the PWAs also embrace NTUC’s ethos of looking out for platform workers’ well-being and career progression.

For instance, through its affiliation with NTUC, the associations offer its members short-term financial assistance to tide through income loss due to a work-related injury.

NPHVA, NDCA and NTA members, who are on five or more days of medical leave, can apply for the NTUC Care Fund (Work Injury Relief) scheme to receive $250 worth of FairPrice vouchers.

Additionally, the PWAs also organise a host of events and activities to keep members engaged and support their career development.

For example, both NTA and NPHVA provide their members with upskilling courses to stay abreast of industry trends and bonding activities to engage fellow members.

If members wish to transition to a new career, the PWAs can also link them up to NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) to help them pivot to other industries should they choose to discontinue with platform work.

PWA members can also access a suite of benefits through NTUC, which can help them save on daily essentials, build financial resilience, care for their families, and develop their careers.

Are you a delivery rider, taxi driver, or private-hire driver? Become a member and start steering your career in the right direction.

• National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) for private-hire drivers: nphva@ntuc.org.sg
• National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) for delivery workers: ndca@ntuc.org.sg
• National Taxi Association (NTA) for taxi drivers: nta@ntuc.org.sg