Video stirs debate on economic pressures, foreign labor, and the struggles of food delivery riders in Singapore
As competition among food delivery riders in Singapore intensifies, a recent incident highlights the strain on those trying to earn a stable income. This week, a local rider confronted another man, accusing him of working illegally, and shared the encounter online through SG Road Vigilante, where the video quickly gained traction.
In the footage, the man being filmed appears distressed, begging the rider to stop as he struggles to hide his identity. The local rider, however, presses on, revealing the other man’s details and repeatedly snatching away a delivery receipt as the accused attempts to retrieve it. “I’m begging you,” the man pleads, adding a sense of desperation that resonates throughout the video.
The confrontation has sparked a wave of online reactions, with some viewers criticizing the rider’s approach as bullying. Despite the legality of his accusations, many commentators urged empathy, with one individual in a Foodpanda rider group writing, “Let him do [the job]. He may have difficulties. Why destroy his means of income?”
Behind this viral clash lies an industry marked by growing uncertainties. Since the pandemic, food delivery has become an increasingly competitive sector, with riders reporting concerns about insufficient pay. An Institute of Policy Studies survey in 2022 showed that 68 percent of riders worry about earnings in this saturated market. The recently approved requirement for riders under 30 to contribute to their Central Provident Fund (CPF) from 2024 adds further stress, with fears of reduced take-home pay.
The debate over foreign workers in delivery jobs has been ongoing. Under Singapore’s Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, only citizens and permanent residents can work as food delivery riders, with illegal employment leading to steep fines and even jail time. Minister of Manpower Zaqy Mohamad recently reiterated this policy in response to parliamentary questions.
This incident underscores long-standing concerns among local workers, who often feel pressured by the influx of foreign workers. According to a 2020 survey by the Institute of Policy Studies, half of Singaporeans believe that immigrants reduce job opportunities for locals.
Ultimately, both individuals in the video appear to be victims of economic circumstances. The alleged illegal worker, likely desperate to support himself, chose to take a risk, while the local rider, grappling with his own financial challenges, saw an outsider as a threat. In a time when the gig economy is fraught with tensions, this encounter raises difficult questions about empathy, survival, and the mounting pressures on those just trying to get by.
