Singapore’s labour movement has begun supporting workers affected by the shutdown of food-delivery platform, Deliveroo in the country earlier this month. The company ceased its operations in Singapore on 4 March, leaving office staff as well as delivery riders without work.
Following the closure, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) moved quickly to assist impacted employees. Its employment arm, Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), along with the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU), organised a joint briefing session for retrenched workers who had been employed in operational and backend roles at the company.
During the session, affected employees were given an overview of available career opportunities and the broader labour market. The programme also introduced them to job-placement services and other forms of employment support available through the labour movement. Career coaches from e2i provided on-site job search guidance and career-advisory services to help individuals explore new opportunities.
Union members were additionally offered training support through the Union Training Assistance Programme. The initiative helps workers upgrade their skills by subsidising course fees, enabling them to improve their employability as they look for new roles.
Support measures have also been extended to delivery riders who worked with the platform. The National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), which represents gig economy riders, engaged with Deliveroo’s management to ensure timely payments for riders impacted by the shutdown. Discussions covered pending earnings, incentive payments and restoration of access to the platform’s cash-out system.
According to updates shared by NTUC, riders received payments for deliveries made between 16 and 28 February and shortly after 5 March. Earnings and incentives for orders completed between 1 and 4 March are expected to be credited by 10 March, along with contributions to the Central Provident Fund where applicable.
The NDCA is also assisting former riders who wish to continue working in the delivery sector by connecting them with other platform operators such as Grab and Foodpanda. For those interested in moving into full-time employment, the association is offering access to career coaching, job matching and skills- training programmes.
The closure in Singapore followed an earlier announcement by Deliveroo’s parent company, DoorDash, that it would wind down operations in several markets, including Singapore and Qatar, as part of a strategic shift to focus on regions where it sees stronger long-term growth opportunities.
