{"id":42474,"date":"2026-04-07T18:10:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T10:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=42474"},"modified":"2026-04-07T18:10:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T10:10:37","slug":"200-cash-for-platform-workers-amid-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=42474","title":{"rendered":"$200 cash for platform workers amid conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/live-us-trump-israel-iran-attack?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\"><b>Follow our live coverage here.<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->Active platform workers \u2013 including delivery riders, and drivers of private-hire vehicles and taxis \u2013 will get $200 in cash from the Government, starting from the end of April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This is to cushion the immediate impact of fuel price hikes on the earnings of platform workers, said Acting Transport Minister and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow on <!-- -->April 7.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He was responding to five questions from MPs on targeted help for platform workers, given the high energy prices arising from the Israel-Iran conflict.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For example, Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah (Jalan Besar GRC) had asked about the estimated impact of higher petrol prices on monthly operating costs of platform workers, and if there will be contingency measures to assist them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Workers\u2019 Party chief Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC)\u00a0had also asked if the Government will provide road tax rebates for those riding motorcycles, and private-hire and taxi drivers. He also asked about petrol duty rebates for private-hire and taxi drivers.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"$200 cash for private-hire and taxi drivers, platform workers: Jeffrey Siow\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/L2Fvw5bCVpM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Siow had said that reducing fuel and diesel duties across the board would be \u201ctoo blunt an approach\u201d and could be regressive. He also said that as an open economy, Singapore should allow fuel prices to reflect market realities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added that fuel vouchers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/tada-gojek-to-temporarily-raise-surcharge-to-defray-higher-fuel-expenses?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">fare adjustments have been introduced<\/span><\/a> following discussions between the National Trades Union Congress and platform and taxi operators.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The $200 cash payout will provide further relief, he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast-Jurong West GRC) then asked if the Government will consider<!-- --> <!-- -->giving more to full-time private-hire and taxi drivers who are on the road for more than eight hours a day. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Siow said $200 is the average of the increase in fuel costs \u2013 which ranges from $150 to $250 \u2013 that full-time private-hire and taxi drivers experience. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI think that\u2019s reasonable for now. We will continue to observe the situation to see if there\u2019s a need for us to do more for this group, particularly the vulnerable ones,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Those eligible for the payout include platform workers with net earnings of <!-- -->more than $500 each month<!-- --> from delivery or ride-hailing work from <!-- -->December 2025 to February 2026<!-- -->, across all platform operators.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Central Provident Fund Board will automatically disburse the payout to these workers, based on the net earnings declared by their platform operators when making CPF contributions. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This will be paid out via PayNow for those who linked their NRIC to the payment method by <!-- -->April 30<!-- -->. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Those who have not linked their NRIC to PayNow, but have a DBS, POSB, OCBC or UOB bank account registered with the govbenefits website, will receive the payout through GIRO\u00a0by <!-- -->May 11<!-- -->. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A third group \u2013 those who do not have their NRIC linked to PayNow <!-- -->and <!-- -->lack a valid bank account \u2013 will receive their payment through GovCash by <!-- -->May 18<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">All cabbies who hired taxis with taxi operators over the same three-month period also qualify for the cash relief. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA will automatically disburse the payout through taxi operators by <!-- -->mid-May<!-- --> to eligible cabbies who do not receive it from CPF Board. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Platform workers whom The Straits Times spoke to applauded the move, but made further suggestions for longer-term support. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Quek Keng Huat, a taxi driver of 11 years, said the payout will help make up for the $25 drop in his daily earnings caused by declining customer demand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 49-year-old said he now completes an average of 16 to 17 trips daily, compared with at least 18 trips before the conflict.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">His concern is that if the war persists, a more severe fall in customer demand might result. This could be \u201creal cause for concern\u201d, said Mr Quek, adding that he hopes the Government will roll out more support if that happens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For delivery rider of eight years Leck Jun You, 41, the payout \u201cdefinitely helps\u201d with repair and maintenance costs for his motorcycle. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He typically spends at least $96 each month on these.<!-- --> After<!-- --> covering such costs, he said he can <!-- -->still <!-- -->use the leftover money to refuel his bike at least four times, with each round costing around $22. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But Mr Leck said it would be more helpful if the Government could disburse such payouts every few months in the long term if the war<!-- --> is protracted<!-- -->. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Steve Lee, a private-hire driver of five years, felt that the payout is useful as an interim solution to tide drivers over rising fuel prices. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But the 52-year-old said more should be done by ride-hailing platform operators to help drivers save on fuel costs. He suggested that app algorithms could be optimised to reduce drivers\u2019 idling time and a vehicle\u2019s distance from passengers\u2019 pickup points, so as to cut down on unnecessary fuel use. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:1080 \/ 1350\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6ea5854b333a22463e0aec9cbadc8d5824ca6dde2a452fb8ec742556c835ff3e?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6ea5854b333a22463e0aec9cbadc8d5824ca6dde2a452fb8ec742556c835ff3e?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6ea5854b333a22463e0aec9cbadc8d5824ca6dde2a452fb8ec742556c835ff3e?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/6ea5854b333a22463e0aec9cbadc8d5824ca6dde2a452fb8ec742556c835ff3e\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/platform-workers-to-receive-200-cash-from-end-april-to-manage-impact-of-middle-east-conflict\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE \u2013 Active platform workers \u2013 including delivery riders, and drivers of private-hire vehicles and taxis \u2013 will get $200&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}