Singapore to give $200 cash payout to platform workers as fuel prices rise amid the energy crisis

The Singapore Government will disburse $200 in cash to active platform workers to help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices starting from the end of April 2026, said Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow.

He added that this $200 cash disbursement will be on top of NTUC’s efforts to help point-to-point drivers secure fuel vouchers and fare adjustments from platform and taxi operators.

Mr Siow made the announcement when he delivered his ministerial statement in Parliament on 7 April 2026, revealing the Government’s efforts to address the energy crisis caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

“What we do know is that Singaporeans are already feeling some of the effects on the ground. In Singapore petrol and diesel prices have risen sharply in tandem with global oil prices and are likely to remain elevated for some time,” he said.

According to NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Yeo Wan Ling, the cash disbursement was made possible through the active engagement of NTUC and its affiliated platform work associations, platform operators and the Government.

She took to Facebook to say that NTUC will continue to push for “broader, practical support — so that no worker is left behind during this challenging period”.

Government’s support for other self-employed drivers

Mr Siow said that the Government would be happy to work with NTUC to see how it can support other self-employed drivers beyond platform and taxi services.

He was responding to a clarification raised by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, who asked if a similar support was being considered for these groups of workers.

Additionally, Mr Ng also asked if the Government could encourage service buyers of transport services to fairly review their existing contracts as rising fuel costs can significantly affect workers’ livelihoods.

“The Government has already stated out its position as a responsible buyer for its own contracts. We hope that we can also encourage private sector service buyers as well as service providers to also come to reasonable accommodations for these purposes,” said Mr Siow.

Reduction of fuel duties

Meanwhile, Mr Siow has expressed his reservations to reduce fuel or diesel duties.

He was responding to a suggestion raised by several members of parliament to help curb the impact of rising fuel prices. He however felt that the move could be “regressive”.

Mr Siow said: “We want to preserve the price signals for consumers to use energy more efficiently. And more fundamentally, as an open economy, it must allow fuel prices to reflect market realities.”

He added that if prices are kept too low, importers may sell fuel elsewhere, which could reduce supply and leave Singapore worse off.

“Our targeted approach provides direct support to those who are directly affected. And this allows us to channel more help to those who need it most,” he said.

Support for SMEs

Mr Siow added that the Government will supplement what was announced at Budget 2026 with a further package of support measures, which will provide targeted support to those most heavily and directly affected, including more broad-based support for businesses and households.

For SMEs, Mr Siow said the corporate income tax rebate will increase from 40 to 50 per cent for assessment year 2026.

The minimum benefit for companies with at least one employee will be raised from $1,500 to $2,000, and the maximum benefit will also be raised from $30,000 to $40,000.

These enhancements would be disbursed by the end of April.

Support for households

To help reassure Singaporeans, Mr Siow said the Government will bring forward the disbursement of the $500 CDC vouchers announced in budget this year to June 2026, from January 2027 previously.

He also shared that the Government would increase the Budget 2026’s Cost of Living Special Payment by $200 all eligible Singaporeans.

This will bring the total quantum of this special payment to between $400 and $600 per person.

“About 2.4 million Singaporeans will receive this additional payment in cash, which will be disbursed in September,” he said.

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