Gov't teams up with NTUC and Grab to address gig worker issues

As part of the trilateral group, Grab will work with stakeholders to develop and share effective practices aimed at better protecting workers.

A new trilateral group has been formed by the Ministry of Manpower (MoM), Ministry of Transport (MoT), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and Grab to tackle challenges facing platform workers, including illegal delivery services and account misuse by foreigners.

Chaired jointly by Senior Ministers of State Dr Koh Poh Koon and Ms Sun Xueling, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, and Grab’s Group Managing Director of Operations Yee Wee Tang, the group will meet regularly to resolve pressing issues flagged by workers and escalate regulatory action where necessary.

In a statement, a Grab spokesperson said: “We are committed to work alongside the government, NTUC, and other platform operators to safeguard the livelihoods of platform workers and create solutions to stamp out illegal delivery services."

The spokesperson added the company already has safeguards in place to prevent foreigners from signing up as platform workers. As part of the trilateral group, Grab will work with stakeholders to develop and share effective practices aimed at better protecting workers.

The formation of the group follows calls by NTUC to clamp down on illegal riders and strengthen safeguards for local gig workers, many of whom have reported falling earnings and job insecurity due to unauthorised job-sharing and competition from illegal workers.

The initiative is backed by the new Platform Workers Act, which came into force on 1 January 2025, and grants platform workers formal representation through Platform Workers Associations.