About 40,000 drivers will be eligible for $20 relief each day for three months from 14 February 2020
By Christopher Tan, Senior Transport Correspondent, The Straits Times, 14 Feb 2020
Cabbies and private-hire drivers can tap a $77 million package to tide them over a sharp drop in business caused by the coronavirus crisis.
The package is co-funded, with the Government contributing $45 million and taxi and private-hire companies paying for the rest.
About 40,000 drivers will be eligible for a $20 relief each day for three months from today, 14 February.
Announcing the package yesterday, the authorities said all main taxi hirers will qualify for the aid package. They will automatically receive $20 in their hiring account each day, without needing to make any application.
Private-hire drivers who completed at least 200 trips per month from October to December last year will also be eligible for the package. Private-hire operators will give details to their drivers within the next week, said the authorities in a statement.
Those who do not qualify for this relief can tap a $2.7 million fund set up by the Government and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Details on how to apply for this fund will be released later.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Janil Puthucheary told reporters yesterday that the relief package was "about 60 per cent" bigger than a similar package doled out during the Sars crisis in 2003.
Asked how badly the coronavirus outbreak has affected the point-to-point transport industry, Dr Janil said "some of our data suggests it's 10 per cent, but I think there may be a lag".
Drivers he spoke to yesterday described a bigger drop, with one revealing on his booking app that his trips had dropped by 30 per cent. "Somewhere between the two is probably the correct number," said Dr Janil, adding: "The reality is that there are going to be several sectors which will need assistance."
"We're going to have to look at a variety of industries across our economy to see what assistance they need," he said.
Mr Ang Hin Kee, adviser to the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association, described the relief package as "fast and decisive".
"We are certainly glad to have been assured of this help," he said.
Cabby Bert Chai, 56, said the relief package "helps a little, but is not very much", translating to $10 a day when he splits it with his relief driver.
Mr Chai said his trip volume had fallen from "15 to 20 a day, to four to six". "This Monday and Tuesday, I took home only $10. It's very depressing," he said, adding that passenger numbers at the airport and hotels had plummeted. "We can wait two hours at the airport for a passenger."
He added: "Now that more companies are asking their workers to work from home, there are even fewer people taking taxi."
Meanwhile, for the taxi and ride-hailing companies, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will waive three months' worth of operating fees amounting to $1.3 million.
The LTA will also defer the start of a point-to-point licensing regime to September. It was originally to start in June.
ComfortDelGro Taxi chief executive Ang Wei Neng said: "We know that it is a challenging time for our cabbies. We encourage our hirers to share the rebates with their relief cabbies."
ComfortDelGro said the assistance would cost the company more than $18 million.
Gojek Singapore general manager Lien Choong Luen said: "Gojek will continue to work with the Government to safeguard the well-being and earnings stability of private-hire drivers, and look at even more ways to support them during this period."
By Christopher Tan, Senior Transport Correspondent, The Straits Times, 14 Feb 2020
The package is co-funded, with the Government contributing $45 million and taxi and private-hire companies paying for the rest.
About 40,000 drivers will be eligible for a $20 relief each day for three months from today, 14 February.
Announcing the package yesterday, the authorities said all main taxi hirers will qualify for the aid package. They will automatically receive $20 in their hiring account each day, without needing to make any application.
Private-hire drivers who completed at least 200 trips per month from October to December last year will also be eligible for the package. Private-hire operators will give details to their drivers within the next week, said the authorities in a statement.
Those who do not qualify for this relief can tap a $2.7 million fund set up by the Government and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Details on how to apply for this fund will be released later.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Janil Puthucheary told reporters yesterday that the relief package was "about 60 per cent" bigger than a similar package doled out during the Sars crisis in 2003.
Asked how badly the coronavirus outbreak has affected the point-to-point transport industry, Dr Janil said "some of our data suggests it's 10 per cent, but I think there may be a lag".
Drivers he spoke to yesterday described a bigger drop, with one revealing on his booking app that his trips had dropped by 30 per cent. "Somewhere between the two is probably the correct number," said Dr Janil, adding: "The reality is that there are going to be several sectors which will need assistance."
"We're going to have to look at a variety of industries across our economy to see what assistance they need," he said.
Mr Ang Hin Kee, adviser to the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association, described the relief package as "fast and decisive".
"We are certainly glad to have been assured of this help," he said.
Mr Chai said his trip volume had fallen from "15 to 20 a day, to four to six". "This Monday and Tuesday, I took home only $10. It's very depressing," he said, adding that passenger numbers at the airport and hotels had plummeted. "We can wait two hours at the airport for a passenger."
He added: "Now that more companies are asking their workers to work from home, there are even fewer people taking taxi."
Meanwhile, for the taxi and ride-hailing companies, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will waive three months' worth of operating fees amounting to $1.3 million.
The LTA will also defer the start of a point-to-point licensing regime to September. It was originally to start in June.
ComfortDelGro Taxi chief executive Ang Wei Neng said: "We know that it is a challenging time for our cabbies. We encourage our hirers to share the rebates with their relief cabbies."
ComfortDelGro said the assistance would cost the company more than $18 million.
Gojek Singapore general manager Lien Choong Luen said: "Gojek will continue to work with the Government to safeguard the well-being and earnings stability of private-hire drivers, and look at even more ways to support them during this period."
300,000 masks for taxi and private-hire car drivers to offer to passengers
Drivers will pass them out to ill passengers; operators to set up temperature stations
By Hariz Baharudin, The Straits Times, 11 Feb 2020
A total of 300,000 surgical masks will be given to taxi and private-hire car drivers, and temperature-taking stations will be set up to better protect them from the coronavirus, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) yesterday.
Packs of four masks, which come from the Government, will be distributed from today through the drivers' companies and operators.
LTA said in a statement: "These masks are intended for drivers to offer to passengers who are unwell but do not have a mask and need a ride to seek medical attention."
The authority also announced that from today, taxi operators will be setting up eight temperature screening stations across all their premises.
Drivers can go to these stations to have their temperature taken and receive a sticker for the day, to indicate their temperature has been checked.
LTA added that private-hire car companies such as Grab and Gojek will require their drivers to take their own temperature and to submit their readings via their apps.
More temperature-taking stations will be progressively added islandwide, said LTA, which will work with the National Taxi Association (NTA) and the National Private Hire Vehicle Association (NPHVA) to set these up.
Speaking to reporters following a dialogue with about 60 taxi and private-hire drivers yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Transport Janil Puthucheary said these measures are meant to protect drivers and to assure members of the public that taxis and private-hire cars are safe to ride.
"We need to find a way to restore confidence. Passengers need to find a way to be confident in the vehicle and the drivers picking them up," he said.
In the past week, there have been three cases of taxi drivers and private-hire drivers who were infected by the coronavirus. All had no recent travel history to China.
During the dialogue, Dr Janil addressed a misconception that the coronavirus is airborne, which he said some drivers have thought to be true, and which could stoke unnecessary fears.
The virus is spread by droplets, stressed Dr Janil. This means that rather than being passed via the air in a small confined space such as a car or a taxi, fluid from the mouth and nose carries the virus. Coronaviruses are spread via droplets from a cough or sneeze.
"All the evidence currently points to this virus being droplet-spread. It is not airborne, and that is what is determining the way in which we address this issue," he said.
In an advisory on Sunday sent on its WhatsApp channel, the Government said it is safe to take taxis or private-hire cars.
But cabbies and private-hire drivers whom The Straits Times had spoken to earlier reported a drop in their earnings, with less demand for their services.
Mr Ang Hin Kee, adviser to both the NTA and NPHVA, was also at the dialogue and told reporters yesterday that cabbies and private-hire drivers have seen their earnings fall by about 30 per cent in the past week or so. He said the drop in demand has taken a toll on drivers as they have to work longer hours to make up for the dip in earnings.
Mr Ang and Dr Janil said more measures are being put together to help these drivers deal with the drop in demand.
Drivers will pass them out to ill passengers; operators to set up temperature stations
By Hariz Baharudin, The Straits Times, 11 Feb 2020
A total of 300,000 surgical masks will be given to taxi and private-hire car drivers, and temperature-taking stations will be set up to better protect them from the coronavirus, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) yesterday.
Packs of four masks, which come from the Government, will be distributed from today through the drivers' companies and operators.
LTA said in a statement: "These masks are intended for drivers to offer to passengers who are unwell but do not have a mask and need a ride to seek medical attention."
The authority also announced that from today, taxi operators will be setting up eight temperature screening stations across all their premises.
Drivers can go to these stations to have their temperature taken and receive a sticker for the day, to indicate their temperature has been checked.
LTA added that private-hire car companies such as Grab and Gojek will require their drivers to take their own temperature and to submit their readings via their apps.
More temperature-taking stations will be progressively added islandwide, said LTA, which will work with the National Taxi Association (NTA) and the National Private Hire Vehicle Association (NPHVA) to set these up.
Speaking to reporters following a dialogue with about 60 taxi and private-hire drivers yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Transport Janil Puthucheary said these measures are meant to protect drivers and to assure members of the public that taxis and private-hire cars are safe to ride.
"We need to find a way to restore confidence. Passengers need to find a way to be confident in the vehicle and the drivers picking them up," he said.
In the past week, there have been three cases of taxi drivers and private-hire drivers who were infected by the coronavirus. All had no recent travel history to China.
During the dialogue, Dr Janil addressed a misconception that the coronavirus is airborne, which he said some drivers have thought to be true, and which could stoke unnecessary fears.
The virus is spread by droplets, stressed Dr Janil. This means that rather than being passed via the air in a small confined space such as a car or a taxi, fluid from the mouth and nose carries the virus. Coronaviruses are spread via droplets from a cough or sneeze.
"All the evidence currently points to this virus being droplet-spread. It is not airborne, and that is what is determining the way in which we address this issue," he said.
In an advisory on Sunday sent on its WhatsApp channel, the Government said it is safe to take taxis or private-hire cars.
But cabbies and private-hire drivers whom The Straits Times had spoken to earlier reported a drop in their earnings, with less demand for their services.
Mr Ang Hin Kee, adviser to both the NTA and NPHVA, was also at the dialogue and told reporters yesterday that cabbies and private-hire drivers have seen their earnings fall by about 30 per cent in the past week or so. He said the drop in demand has taken a toll on drivers as they have to work longer hours to make up for the dip in earnings.
Mr Ang and Dr Janil said more measures are being put together to help these drivers deal with the drop in demand.
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Ministry of Health - Updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Local Situation
Gov.sg: 2019 - COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) situation in Singapore
2019 Novel Coronavirus: Ministerial Statement on Whole-of-Government Response
Wuhan virus: Singapore confirms first case of novel coronavirus infection on 23 January 2020
Wuhan virus: Singapore has to stay vigilant, but has every reason to be confident, says PM Lee Hsien Loong
Wuhan virus: Each Singapore household to get 4 free masks for contingencies; collection starts on 1 Feb till 9 Feb 2020
2019-nCoV: Singapore reports first cases of local coronavirus transmission on 4 February 2020
2019-nCoV: Singapore employers will receive $100 a day for each worker serving the 14-day Leave of Absence (LOA)
DORSCON Orange: Singapore raises coronavirus outbreak alert on 7 February 2020; Singaporeans clear supermarket shelves in panic buying of essentials
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