Singapore labour unions step in to support workers after Deliveroo exit

Singapore’s labour movement has moved swiftly to support workers affected by the shutdown of food delivery platform Deliveroo in the city-state earlier this month.

The company ceased its Singapore operations on March 4, impacting office employees as well as delivery riders operating on the platform. In response, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) mobilised support through its employment arm, the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), along with the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU).

A joint briefing session was organised a day after the closure for retrenched staff working in operations and back-end support roles. The session offered guidance on employment options, insights into the current job market and details on placement assistance services available to affected workers.

SMMWU Secretary-General Andy Lim said NTUC’s e2i career coaches also provided on-site job search assistance and career advisory support to help displaced workers transition to new opportunities. Union members were further offered subsidised training through the Union Training Assistance Programme to upgrade their skills.

Support efforts also extended to gig workers. The National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), which represents delivery riders in Singapore, engaged with Deliveroo’s management on issues including payment timelines, outstanding earnings and incentives, restoration of cash-out access, and goodwill compensation.

According to NTUC, riders received earnings and incentives for orders completed between February 16 and 28 within two days after March 5. Payments for orders made between March 1 and 4, including contributions to the Central Provident Fund, are expected to be credited to riders’ accounts by March 10.

NDCA also said it will help former Deliveroo riders move to other delivery platforms such as Grab and Foodpanda, while those interested in transitioning into full-time roles will receive career coaching, job-matching and skills upgrading support.

The exit follows a broader restructuring by Deliveroo’s parent company DoorDash, which announced in late February that it would wind down operations in Singapore and Qatar, while another group platform, Wolt, would also leave Japan and Uzbekistan.

In a statement, Miki Kuusi said the decision followed a review of market conditions. “Our priority is supporting our teams and partners through an orderly transition as we focus on the geographies where we can offer the best products and build for long-term success,” he said.