For the longest time, one of the attractions of platform work has been its flexibility. For some, platform work allows them to choose when and how long they want to work, fitting deliveries around other life commitments such as school or caregiving.
For others, platform work has effectively become a full-time job, with some spending more than nine hours a day making deliveries. While platform workers now receive work injury protection and CPF contributions under rules introduced in 2025, their benefits still differ from those of employees, including paid annual leave and full employee CPF contribution rates.
Earlier this week, Foodpanda introduced full-time rider jobs offering a basic monthly salary of $1,800, with an additional $100 monthly allowance for riders using their own bicycle or e-bike. The scheme includes full employer CPF contributions, medical coverage and paid annual leave.
Source: Foodpanda
For riders already making deliveries regularly, this raises a question: would becoming an employee offer a better deal than continuing as a platform worker?
The $1,800 Salary Matches The Local Qualifying Salary
Firstly, let us look at the salary. Coincidentally, Foodpanda’s $1,800 basic monthly salary matches Singapore’s current Local Qualifying Salary (LQS). Companies hiring foreign workers must pay their full-time local employees at least the LQS, unless they are covered by a relevant Progressive Wage Model, which has its own wage requirements.
A Singaporean or permanent resident employee earning at least $1,800 a month also counts as one local worker when calculating the company’s Work Permit and S Pass quota entitlement.
The 44-hour working week is also relevant. Foodpanda requires riders to work an average of 44 hours weekly, although approved leave and paid early release can reduce their required hours. This corresponds to the normal working-hour limit for shift workers covered under the Employment Act. Overtime beyond the applicable contractual hours must be paid at least 1.5 times the hourly basic rate, which will not be applicable to this job since Foodpanda will not require its workers to work OT (they can still do so separately as a platform worker)
The $1,800 basic salary meets the LQS floor for a full-time local employee working normal hours of 35 to 44 hours a week. It is a starting salary at the prevailing threshold, with employer CPF contributions, allowances, and employee benefits making up the rest of the package.
Should Riders Take Up The Offer?
At $1,800 a month, the salary alone may not look particularly attractive compared with other jobs, including those in F&B. A quick walk around the shopping mall reveals many job advertisements for workers at higher salaries.
However, riders should also consider how many deliveries they need to complete and the time required.
Dividing $1,800 by the monthly target of 320 qualifying orders gives an implied basic salary of about $5.63 per order, before employer CPF contributions and employee benefits.
According to Foodpanda, efficient riders can complete the target in 100 to 110 hours. Riders who meet the target can qualify for paid early release from their remaining required hours, subject to programme conditions, and continue earning separately through their freelance account.
At three qualifying orders an hour, completing 320 orders would take about 107 hours, translating to approximately $16.88 an hour in basic salary (if you can be as efficient as what Foodpanda claims is possible). Whether this is achievable depends on factors such as order availability, delivery distances and waiting times. Existing riders can compare Foodpanda’s estimate with their own experience.
Alternatively, a rider who works the full 44 hours every week would average about 191 hours a month. This brings the effective basic salary to approximately $9.44 an hour, excluding allowances and employer CPF contributions. At that rate, other jobs may offer better pay, although riders would need to compare the hours, benefits and work involved.
A Potential Win-Win For Foodpanda And Its Existing Riders
At a basic salary of $1,800 a month, this offer is unlikely to draw people into delivery. Those looking to supplement their income may also prefer the flexibility of platform work over committing to employee shifts.
In our view, the scheme could be more attractive to existing Foodpanda riders who already make deliveries regularly. For someone already completing at least 320 qualifying orders each month, it could mean receiving a guaranteed salary, employer CPF contributions and employee benefits for work they are already doing.
Foodpanda, in return, gains a more dependable pool of delivery workers. Qualifying local employees earning at least the LQS can also count towards its Work Permit and S Pass quota entitlement.
For existing Foodpanda riders, the logical question to ask is their own earnings. How much do they currently receive for 320 deliveries, including incentives, and how long does it take them? If they already complete this volume regularly, the salary guarantee, employee benefits and opportunity to continue freelancing after paid early release could make the scheme worth considering.
Read Also: 6 Tips On How Freelancers & Platform Workers Can Plan Their Finances When Income Isn’t Stable
Street Smart
Singapore Gym Membership Price Guide (2026 Edition)
