Three individuals convicted for working as food delivery riders without a valid work pass and two individuals convicted for abetting them
On 10 October 2023, three individuals were convicted for working as self-employed foreigners without a valid work pass. They worked illegally as food delivery riders. One Singaporean and one Permanent Resident (PR) were also convicted for abetting the said offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 (EFMA).
2 Following their convictions, the three foreigners will be permanently barred from working in Singapore. The charges and sentences imposed on the five individuals are as follows:
| S/N |
Name of individual |
Charges |
Sentence imposed |
| 1 |
Ng Teik Chuan (“Ng”), 36-year-old foreigner |
One charge under the EFMA for being a self-employed foreigner without having a valid work pass. |
Fine of $10,000 |
| 2 |
Amanullah Faizal Navas (“Amanullah”), 37-year-old foreigner |
One charge under the EFMA for being a self-employed foreigner without having a valid work pass. |
Fine of $3,800 |
| 3 |
Chaw Soon Yaw (“Soon Yaw”), 28-year-old foreigner |
One charge under the EFMA for being a self-employed foreigner without having a valid work pass. |
Fine of $5,000 |
| 4 |
Muhammad Mubeen Muthibbi Bin Sahul Hameed (“Mubeen”), 47-year-old Singapore Citizen |
One charge under the EFMA for abetting the illegal self-employment of a foreigner who does not have a valid work pass. |
Fine of $3,800 |
| 5 |
Chaw Soon Song (“Soon Song”), 23-year-old Singapore
Permanent Resident |
One charge under the EFMA for abetting the illegal self-employment of a
foreigner who does not have a valid work pass. |
Fine of $5,000 |
Case Details
3 Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”) revealed that:
- Between May 2022 and March 2023, 36-year-old Ng worked as a food delivery rider using the MilkRun and LiveExpress applications. He made over 1,300 deliveries and earned around $17,000 from his work.
- In March 2023, 37-year-old Amanullah worked as a food delivery rider for four days using the FoodPanda account belonging to his friend Mubeen, a 47-year-old Singaporean. Mubeen agreed to share the use of his account despite being fully aware that Amanullah was a foreigner and that it was illegal for Amanullah to work as a food delivery rider. Amanullah earned around $540 from his work.
- Between December 2022 and March 2023, 28-year-old Soon Yaw worked as a food delivery rider using the Deliveroo account of his brother, Soon Song, a 23 year old Singapore PR. Soon Song had offered to share his account with Soon Yaw to supplement Soon Yaw’s income, despite being fully aware that it was illegal for Soon Yaw to work as a food delivery rider without a valid work pass. Soon Yaw earned more than $2,000 from his work.
4 Court proceedings against foreigner Muhammad Syazuwan Bin Sharil for being a self-employed foreigner without having a valid work pass, and Singaporean, Low Kim Soon for allegedly abetting the illegal self-employment are ongoing.
Advisory on undertaking employment
5 MOM takes a serious view of illegal employment and will take action against any individual involved in these acts. Under the EFMA, only foreigners with valid work passes are allowed to work in Singapore, in the occupation as stated in their work passes. Foreigners who are self-employed without a valid work pass may be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Upon conviction, their work pass privileges would also be suspended, and they will be permanently barred from working in Singapore.
6 Local delivery platform workers who are found to have allowed foreigners to use their accounts may face the same penalties as the latter.
7 Members of the public who come across suspicious employment activities such as companies employing foreigners without valid work passes or know of persons or employers who contravene the EFMA are encouraged to report the matter to MOM at 64385122 or mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg. All information that is shared will be kept strictly confidential.