Regulation of Despatch Riders with Foreign-registered Vehicles

Sir, foreign despatch riders making commercial deliveries in Singapore must hold valid work passes. This is a requirement under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) and also applies to any other foreigner working in Singapore. Should they wish to use foreign-registered vehicles to make deliveries, they will need to comply with the Land Transport Authority's rules and regulations which include purchasing the necessary compulsory insurance.

Foreign despatch riders without valid work passes can be prosecuted under the EFMA, fined up to $20,000 and imprisoned up to two years. MOM may also take action against their employers.

I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his response. I am reassured that they require the work passes to be able to do their work in Singapore. However, I have a few supplementary questions.

First, in light of the revelation that the employers would be taken to task, does the Senior Parliamentary Secretary have any statistics in recent years to show if there has been an increase in the number of employers who have been errant in not applying for work passes? Secondly, my understanding is that in a 2009 High Court ruling, many of the vehicles are not covered locally, in terms of insurance. Is there a particular requirement under MOM for foreign despatch riders to be able to be covered under a group insurance by their employers? In terms of work injury, if they are injured during the course of their work, would they be covered under WICA?

Sir, up to now, we have not come across any employer who has been caught or found guilty of employing foreign despatch riders without work permits. Whether they are covered under local insurance, LTA would require any user of foreign registered vehicles to have an insurance coverage. If they do not have insurance, that is a contravention of LTA regulations. About work injury, yes, all workers in Singapore – local or foreigners – are covered under WICA.

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