Lalamove drivers are now delivering packages with protection

Lalamove Singapore has formally recognised the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) as the official representative for its platform workers, marking a significant step forward in ensuring better protection and representation for gig workers in the logistics sector.

This recognition builds upon a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Lalamove and NDCA in November 2024 — shortly after the passing of a legislation that aimed to protect freelance delivery workers and ride-hailing drivers in Singapore. The new legislation appears to be the culmination of efforts by the Digital Platforms Industry Association, which has been pushing for better delivery worker protections since 2022. 

Debated in Parliament in September 2024, the Platform Workers Bill created a distinct legal category for platform workers. As these workers are employed in sectors shaped by emerging technologies, and under the relatively new flexible work model, this category was necessary to develop tailored protections for these workers, including access to a standardised work injury compensation scheme aligned with that of full-time employees, and the ability to collectively negotiate through officially recognised union-like representative bodies.

The NDCA, founded in December 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, is one such body. Its formation coincided the COVID-19 Pandemic, a period when the spotlight was placed on delivery workers for their role in maintaining essential services during lockdowns. Correspondingly, this period was where long-standing issues faced by freelancers was brought to the fore — chief among them, the absence of job security and employment benefits that full-timers had.

The goal of the NDCA is to represent freelancers whose primary source of income is from delivery work, regardless of their mode of transport. The association advocates for improved working conditions, helps workers file injury compensation claims, and facilitates communication with platform companies on issues related to safety, wages, and infrastructure. It also offers financial assistance and dispute resolution — critical support mechanisms that have traditionally harder to access for many in the gig economy.

For Lalamove, which relies on both full-time employees and freelance drivers, this partnership represents a shift towards deeper engagement with its workers. A 2021 article by The Smart Local illustrated the often physically demanding nature of the work, following a Lalamove driver who carried parcels weighing up to 30kg and delivered up to 20 packages a day, entirely by himself.

Under the terms of the MoU, NDCA will not only represent driver partners in negotiations and disputes but also spearhead educational initiatives. These include digital literacy programmes, scam prevention workshops, and other skills training aimed at better equipping drivers for the digital platforms they rely on.

“Our driver partners are the backbone of Lalamove, navigating not just roads but an ever-evolving digital landscape,” said Alex Lin, Managing Director of Lalamove Singapore. “By recognising NDCA, we’re going beyond traditional support to empower them with the tools, knowledge, and representation they need to thrive.”

Ng Gan Poh, President of NDCA, added. “This recognition gives our delivery workers a stronger voice with Lalamove management under the Platform Workers Act that NTUC and NDCA have advocated for. Our partnership has already delivered concrete results, including digital training programmes, better working conditions, and improved dispute resolution processes. But this is just the beginning.”

This move is a clear step in the right direction by the platform company to address the longstanding concerns about the precarity of gig work. With the legislative framework now in place, similar initiatives by other companies include Grab’s collaboration with the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and NDCA, and Foodpanda’s partnership with the Traffic Police to enhance driver safety.

While this may not solve all the structural challenges of the budding industry of gig work, this trend does signal a maturing understanding of the industry and its specific difficulty, and how platform companies, workers, and regulators are beginning to align.