Ex-marine technician turned delivery rider shares daily struggles amid rising costs

SINGAPORE: Ahead of Labour Day, advocacy group WorkersMakePossible (WMP) is spotlighting the struggles of everyday workers through a series of personal stories.

Among them is Guna, a former marine technician who was retrenched during the COVID-19 pandemic and now works as a delivery rider.

His story sheds light on the mounting financial burdens faced by low-income workers and highlights the need for greater recognition of hard labour jobs in Singapore.

From Marine Technician to Delivery Rider

Guna has been working as a FoodPanda delivery rider for nearly five years.

Before switching careers, he was employed in the marine industry — a job that ended when he was retrenched during the pandemic.

"Before I started doing delivery, I was in the marine line as a technician. Then retrenchment happened, and I chose to go work as a delivery rider," he said.

"It's not easy to meet the expenses. It’s very expensive, especially riding a bike. The price is very high."

Rising Costs and Daily Struggles

Guna described how escalating costs have made daily living increasingly difficult.

The recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike to 9% has further strained his already tight budget.

"Now, even if you go to a coffee shop, you need to spend at least eight to ten dollars for a proper meal," he said.

"Transport, bike, COE — this is the struggle ordinary people are facing."

Despite working hard, Guna admitted he is "still surviving" but added, "it's not easy at the moment."

His challenges are compounded by responsibilities at home, where he supports his handicapped father.

"For my father, just to buy pampers alone, I spend $200 to $300 monthly, and even that also not enough," he said.

"I have to work hard. Monthly, I will set aside money for them, but then I cannot focus on my savings."

Recognising Workers' Contributions

Beyond his personal struggles, Guna spoke passionately about the need to appreciate workers in physically demanding industries.

He pointed out that many hard labour workers sacrifice family time and personal well-being to keep the country running.

"They have no time for their family, working long hours. Because if these people don’t work, Singapore’s economy will not be working," he said.

"I feel they should be appreciated and valued by the community."

When asked who he wanted to honour this Labour Day, Guna highlighted workers in marine, offshore, PSA, logistics, delivery services, and transport sectors.

"People working in marine, offshore, drivers, logistics, parcel delivery — they are the ones keeping Singapore’s economy moving. I am also part of them," he said.

"If these people don’t work, the economy cannot grow."

Speaking Up for Workers’ Rights

Looking ahead to Labour Day, Guna plans to bring his close friends — fellow riders and those from the marine and offshore industries — to the event at Hong Lim Park.

"I want to show appreciation that they also contribute to the country," he said.

"The important thing is, you should come to Labour Day to make a difference in our community and in society."

He stressed the need for collective action to protect workers' rights and welfare.

"We should care about workers' fairness and rights. If we never care about this, who is going to care about our society? Is the government going to care?

We have to put in the effort and voice out all these things — the issues and concerns workers are facing in their workplaces."

Labour Day Event Details

The Labour Day gathering, organised by WorkersMakePossible, will take place at Hong Lim Park on 25 May 2025, from 4pm to 7pm.

The event aims to celebrate the contributions of workers across all sectors and to advocate for fairer treatment, greater recognition, and stronger protection of labour rights in Singapore.

Correction: The Labour Day gathering will be held on 25 May instead of 1 May due to the ongoing General Election campaign