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Food delivery riders in Singapore are likely struggling to earn as much money as before given that the pandemic has entered the endemic phase with dining out options galore.

Shin Min Daily News reported that a food delivery rider claimed that he earned S$90 a day after working 11 hours.

This represented a 50 per cent decline in daily earnings, said the 57-year-old man surnamed Sun, who has worked in this line for three years.

On average, his income now is about S$8 per hour.

While the job was lucrative during the pandemic when dining out was restricted, the opening up of Singapore's economy and social activities has seen food delivery riders' incomes take a hit, the Chinese media reported.

Given this scenario and compounded by the lack of career progression in this field, those who rely on food delivery full time run the risk of falling into the "in-work poverty" scenario, where they struggle to increase their earnings, find promotion, and secure more lucrative positions.

It was previously discovered that food delivery riders in Singapore have to work 55 hours a week, or at least 10 hours more than professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).

Moreover, the 37 food delivery workers interviewed in the survey revealed that they had to work at least 40 hours a week to earn S$2,000 a month.

However, another delivery rider in his 30s, who did not want to be named, told Shin Min that working 40 hours a week is very little for those in this line of work.

He said: "Many people work very hard and can work more than 12 hours a day. Those who are hardworking and who don’t rest, can earn well if they work for seven days consecutively.”

It was also reported that many who took up food delivery jobs during the pandemic have gone back to their past vocations now that the situation has normalised.

Previously, these individuals might have been laid off.

Only about 33 per cent -- or one-third -- of food delivery riders are working full-time in this field on a long-term basis, while the rest see it as part-time job to supplement their full-time income, it was further reported.

A cross-platform industry survey found that 65 per cent of food delivery riders are only part-timers who do not use the vocation as their main source of income.

It was revealed that only about 33 per cent of food delivery riders will work for three years or more full time.

Top photos by Joshua Lee & Zheng Zhangxin