The National Taxi Association, National Private Hire Vehicles Association, and National Delivery Champions Association have legal powers for collective representation and bargaining rights for platform workers, effective from 7 January 2025 under the Platform Workers Act
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) announces that the National Taxi Association (NTA), National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), which represent platform workers, have been officially registered and recognised by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) as Platform Work Associations (PWAs) under the Platform Workers Act, with effect from 7 January 2025.
This development will potentially strengthen protection for 67,600 platform workers in Singapore1 because they can join NTA, NPHVA and NDCA, which, as PWAs, will be able to legally represent and protect platform workers' interests through collective agreements with platform operators.
NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said, "The successful registration of NTA, NPHVA and NDCA as Platform Work Associations enhances NTUC's commitment to championing platform workers' interests. These associations have been working hard to deliver meaningful outcomes for platform workers, and with this new legal recognition, we can create even greater impact. We will continue to work closely with platform operators to create better lives and livelihoods for platform workers."
Long-standing commitment to platform worker advocacy
This registration and recognition of these three Platform Work Associations strongly affirms NTUC's long-standing commitment to championing platform workers. NTUC has championed the interest of these groups of workers even before 2010, starting with taxi drivers through NTA. This commitment grew with the formation of associations for private hire vehicle drivers (NPHVA) in 2016 and for delivery riders (NDCA) in 2020, reflecting NTUC's ability to address emerging workforce challenges.
1Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Force in Singapore Advance Release 2024, page 19, para 2.23: Such jobs include taxi drivers (20,800 in 2024), private-hire car drivers (31,800), and delivery workers (15,300). Overall, the number of regular platform workers decreased from 70,500 in 2023 (or 2.9% of all employed residents) to 67,600 (or 2.7%) in 2024.
Over the years, these associations have consistently demonstrated their commitment to protecting platform workers' interests through initiatives and strong advocacy efforts such as:
a) Contributing to the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers, resulting in a set of recommendations that better protect this group of workers.
b) Introducing the NTUC Care Fund (Work Injury Relief) in 2023 in the form of $250 NTUC FairPrice grocery vouchers to provide short-term relief to injured members.
c) Calling for more financial support for platform workers’ retirement planning and housing needs, and measures to ensure safety and well-being at work including better work injury coverage.
d) For more initiatives, see Annex A.
Platform work association leaders to take action to protect platform workers
Ken Tan, President of the National Taxi Association said, "This new registration and recognition of our NTA will help us better protect our taxi drivers' livelihoods and welfare. Many taxi drivers have been with us for years, and now we can do more to support them. Looking ahead, we aim to work even more closely with the taxi companies to ensure sustainable earnings and better welfare support for our drivers.”
Joseph Goh, General Secretary of National Private Hire Vehicles Association said, “Private hire drivers often work with different platform operators, each with their own rules. The formal registration and recognition of our NPHVA empower us to negotiate more effectively with the different platform operators, especially regarding fair compensation and dispute resolution. We envision creating a more equitable working environment that benefits both private hire drivers and platforms in the long run.”
Ng Gan Poh, President of National Delivery Champions Association said, "Our delivery riders work hard every day, facing varying traffic and weather conditions. With the registration and recognition of our NDCA, we can better speak up for them on important issues like their earnings, safety on the roads, and better working terms. We look forward to working with platform operators to make things better for all our riders."
Shaping the future of Singapore’s platform worker economy together
NTUC calls upon platform workers to join their respective associations to be collectively represented by the associations that will speak up for their interests. Platform operators are also encouraged to partner with NTA, NPHVA and NDCA to build a sustainable platform economy with win-win outcomes for platform businesses, their customers, and platform workers.
Platform workers can join their respective associations or seek work-related assistance through the following channels:
• National Taxi Association (NTA) represents taxi drivers: https://www.nta.org.sg
/ Email: nta@ntuc.org.sg
• National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) represents private hire vehicle drivers: https://nphva.org.sg/ Email: nphva@ntuc.org.sg
• National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) representing delivery platform workers: https://ndca.org.sg / Email: ndca@ntuc.org.sg
NTUC membership benefits for platform workers
NTA, NPHVA and NDCA can help platform workers plan ahead with financial advice, training and support so that they can look forward to a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The assistance includes the Union Training Assistance Programme to upgrade their skills, and other financial support like the NTUC-U Care Fund and Hardship Grant.
If platform workers are injured on the job and unable to work, the new law ensures they receive work injury compensation. As NTUC members, platform workers will also receive $250 worth of grocery vouchers to purchase daily necessities.
1Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Force in Singapore Advance Release 2024, page 19, para 2.23: Such jobs include taxi drivers (20,800 in 2024), private-hire car drivers (31,800), and delivery workers (15,300). Overall, the number of regular platform workers decreased from 70,500 in 2023 (or 2.9% of all employed residents) to 67,600 (or 2.7%) in 2024.
