Qualified platform workers and taxi drivers in Singapore are set to receive a cash assistance of S$200 (US$155) to mitigate the impact of increasing fuel prices. To be eligible, platform workers must have earned above S$500 per month from their platform-based jobs across all operators between December 2025 and February 2026. Similarly, taxi drivers must have had a vehicle rental contract with a taxi operator within the same timeframe.
The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board will undertake the automatic processing of the payouts using income data submitted by platform operators for CPF contributions. Checkouts are expected to be disbursed via PayNow-NRIC by the end of April, or through GIRO by May 11. Recipients without connected bank accounts will be paid via GovCash by May 18.
If eligible taxi drivers fail to receive their payments via the CPF Board, the Land Transport Authority will automatically disburse the payouts by mid-May.
The cash relief, announced by Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow, is aimed at alleviating the burden of growing petrol costs on workers’ earnings. Fuel prices have been on a steady rise over the past month due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, although the government has no plans to intervene in regulating pump prices.
Jeffrey Siow explained that direct support would be offered to small-medium enterprises, companies, drivers, and individuals most affected by the fuel price hike, as control of pump prices would be too blunt an approach and potentially regressive.
Yeo Wan Ling, the assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, applauded the initiative but added that similar support should also extend to self-employed drivers of combi buses and limousines. She expressed the union’s commitment to working closely with the government and industry partners to ensure that support reaches every affected worker.
The relief payout is part of a larger support package valued at nearly S$1 billion, which aims to cushion the effects of escalating energy costs associated with the Middle East conflict. The package comprises a variety of measures to aid businesses, workers, and households, including advancing S$500 cost-of-living vouchers for households by six months and augmenting a one-off cash payout for qualified adults by S$200.
What is the eligibility criteria for platform workers and taxi drivers to receive the cash assistance?
Platform workers must have earned above S$500 per month from their platform work across all operators between December 2025 and February 2026. Taxi drivers must have had a vehicle hire agreement with a taxi operator within the same timeframe.
How will the payouts be processed and disbursed?
The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board will process the payouts automatically using income data submitted by platform operators for CPF contributions. Payments will be made via PayNow-NRIC, GIRO, or GovCash, depending on the recipient’s banking setup.
What is the objective of this cash relief initiative?
The initiative aims to alleviate the burden of rising fuel costs on the earnings of platform workers and taxi drivers in Singapore, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East that have led to an increase in fuel prices.
