Not the first time they got tip-off from the associations.
If you’ve ever taken a ride from someone who isn’t on Grab, Gojek, or any official taxi app, here’s a heads-up: it might not just be unsafe, it could also be illegal.
In a recent enforcement operation, 19 drivers were caught for providing illegal ride-hailing services in Singapore, including trips to and from Malaysia.
Caught at Changi Airport, Gardens by the Bay and even the Checkpoint
These drivers were caught during patrols at hotspots like Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay, as well as in a joint operation with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at a land checkpoint.
All 19 vehicles involved have since been impounded.
Those found guilty of offering illegal ride services can be fined up to $3,000, jailed up to six months, and have their vehicles forfeited.
Tip-offs provided by NTUC Associations
This clampdown didn’t come out of nowhere.
LTA said the ops were conducted based on tip-offs from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and National Taxi Association (NTA), both of which are affiliated to NTUC.
The associations have long raised concerns about foreigners and other unlicensed individuals taking on illegal ride-hailing work, which affects the income of hardworking, law-abiding drivers.
NTUC has been standing up for the platform workers, including private-hire drivers and taxi uncles, making sure they are not unfairly squeezed out by those operating outside the system.
Trilateral workgroup formed to tackle the problem of illegal platform work
Just recently, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Transport (MOT) and LTA came together with NTUC to form a trilateral workgroup.
This new group is focused on one thing: cracking down on foreigners doing illegal platform work, like unlicensed driving or unauthorised food delivery, which is not allowed under their work passes.
NTUC and its affiliated unions have highlighted how such illegal activities:
- Put passenger safety at risk
- Undermine the livelihoods of local drivers
- And cause unfair competition for licensed platform workers
The workgroup is now working on strengthening enforcement and closing loopholes to better safeguard jobs for locals and ensure platform work remains safe and sustainable.
NTUC’s commitment to platform workers
This latest enforcement is just part of the bigger picture.
For over a decade, NTUC has been building up support for platform workers, starting with taxi drivers, then extending support to private hire drivers through NPHVA in 2016, and later to delivery riders via the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) in 2020.
NTUC and its platform workers’ associations have been fighting for:
- CPF protection for platform workers
- Better safety standards
- Fairer contracts
- And now, stronger laws to deal with illegal competition
The message is clear: they want to protect the platform workers and level the playing field for the thousands of Singaporeans who depend on this sector to earn a living.
So the next time you want to book a ride, don’t try your luck with illegal services. It’s not worth the risk. Not for you, and not for the many Singaporeans working hard to make an honest living.
