SINGAPORE - Commercial car-pooling services will cease, and taxis and private-hire cars can take more than two passengers only if they are all from the same household. These are some of the measures that have been implemented for this period of heightened alert from Sunday (May 16) to June 13, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA). In a statement, the agency said these measures are "to minimise the interaction and the risk of Covid-19 transmission across different households when commuting". The updated Covid-19 restrictions on group sizes that will apply to taxis and private-hire cars mean that passengers from different households have to keep to the two-passenger limit. However, more than two passengers can travel together in a taxi or private-hire car if they all live in the same household. For instance, a parent can travel with his or her two children if they live together. Reminding drivers and passengers to wear their masks at all times, the LTA said: "Taxi and private-hire drivers should decline to fetch passengers who do not wear masks." During the heightened alert period, the agency will also disallow all forms of commercial car-pooling services such as GrabHitch and RydePool, which involve drivers receiving payment for ferrying passengers while en route to their destination. Licensed car-pooling operators have accordingly suspended these services from their platforms. The LTA said non-commercial car-pooling trips are permitted among friends or colleagues only if the prevailing permissible group size of two people is adhered to. For example, if a group of colleagues is travelling together, they must split into groups of not more than two. "We strongly encourage commuters to use public transport, taxis and private-hire cars booked through their respective ride-hail applications," said the LTA, calling on the public to report individuals offering illegal car-pooling services through its OneMotoring portal. The agency reminded all commuters to keep their masks on at all times, whether they are taking the trains, buses, taxis or private-hire cars. Those who are unwell should also see a doctor. "When travelling on public transport, commuters should try to spread themselves out or travel during off-peak periods where possible. They should also continue to adhere to the prevailing safe management measures such as maintaining good personal hygiene and refraining from talking," it added. More on this topic Related Story S'pore's new Covid-19 rules: Can family living together go out in groups of more than 2? Related Story S'pore tightens Covid-19 measures: 10 questions on the new rules answered Related Stories: Related Story S'pore tightens Covid-19 measures: 10 questions on the new rules answered Related Story Malaysia's MCO 3.0: How a third Covid-19 lockdown has impacted daily life Related Story India hopes Covid-19 cases stabilising even as daily deaths stay near 4,000 Related Story Taiwan tightens curbs after record 180 local Covid-19 cases Related Story Hong Kong residents revolt against Covid-19 quarantine camp Related Story World could have prevented Covid-19 catastrophe: Expert panel Related Story 'Vaccine tourists' fly from abroad for Covid-19 injections on US beach Related Story Millions of unused Covid-19 vaccine shots piling up in Japan amid slow roll-out Related Story S'pore on knife-edge, Covid-19 cases can go either way over next few weeks: Lawrence Wong Related Story The world turns to China for Covid-19 vaccines after India, US stumble
Taxi drivers will get at least $300 a month in additional rental relief from cab operators in the first half of next year, as the sector continues to be hit by low demand caused by the pandemic. Including the separate payouts that the Government has announced, they will receive a total of almost $5,000 from next month to June, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor yesterday. Explaining the continued aid for the sector, Dr Khor said: "Tourism activities remain muted... and many employees are still continuing to work from home. "In fact, the commuting pattern has actually changed with shorter trips and therefore lower fares." She was speaking after a visit to the ComfortDelGro office in Braddell Road. ComfortDelGro Taxi chief executive Ang Wei Neng noted that while passenger numbers had grown to about 70 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels, drivers were earning less in fares. He said he hoped that the introduction of Covid-19 vaccines, as well as the reopening of the economy and borders, would help to boost the prospects of drivers. Separately, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) this week announced that drivers of private-hire cars and taxis will get $600 a month from January to March next year, up from the $300 monthly they were initially set to receive. In addition, the drivers will also get $450 from April to June. The increased payouts by the Government are meant to help cushion the impact of the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (Sirs) ending this year. The scheme had provided self-employed people with three quarterly cash payouts of $3,000 each. Drivers had been able to use Sirs, as well as the Special Relief Fund, to boost their earnings. Dr Khor said yesterday that the Government has disbursed about $120 million in payouts through the Special Relief Fund to about 40,000 taxi and private-hire car drivers as of end-November. When asked if private-hire car operators such as Grab and Gojek would be introducing additional rental relief similar to that offered by taxi operators, Dr Khor said: "We continue to work together with the operators to encourage them to continue to support the private-hire car drivers in whatever way they can." Labour MP Yeo Wan Ling, who is also a director at the National Trades Union Congress, said it has been meeting private-hire operators to let them know about the initiatives by taxi operators. She noted that the union has also worked with private-hire platforms on upskilling drivers and equipping them with expertise to transition to other industries. Ride-hailing operator Grab said in response to queries that its approach would "continue to evolve with the situation". It said it had been focusing on maximising earning opportunities for its drivers. The Straits Times understands that Gojek has no plans to introduce subsidies similar to that of taxi operators. But a spokesman said the firm remains committed to helping drivers through incentive schemes and benefits. Meanwhile, cabbies said they are grateful for the additional help. ComfortDelGro taxi driver Frankie Chew, 52, acknowledged that the subsidies which drivers will receive next year will be lower without Sirs. However, the sole breadwinner for his family of four is optimistic about the future. He said: "Singapore is opening up and people are coming out. "The most difficult challenge (during the circuit breaker period) has already passed, so we will definitely be able to pull through."
SINGAPORE - Five months after Singapore moved into phase two of reopening its economy in June, taxi and private-hire drivers continue to spend more time roaming the streets without passengers, with some earning just enough to cover costs. Demand for rides remains more lacklustre than last year due to the lack of tourists, shut entertainment venues like nightclubs, the ban on the sale of alcohol after 10.30pm, and many still working from home. There are also fewer instances of surge pricing for private-hire drivers, meaning they have to make more trips to match their pre-Covid-19 earnings. In response to queries from The Sunday Times, the Land Transport Authority said ridership in the first week of this month was at 75 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels. This figure is on the higher end of estimates by drivers and taxi companies, who said ridership is slightly above 66 per cent of pre-outbreak levels. Taxi driver Shaik Ismail, 39, said he used to make 13 to 14 trips daily in the past two years, when he drove from 7am to 3pm. Now, he struggles to get 10 trips despite driving an extra two hours, stretching his work day to 5pm. He earns $120 a day now, down from $200 last year. Taxi queues are longer now, he said, with many drivers choosing to wait in line instead of driving around aimlessly with no passengers to hail them down. The types of trips have also changed, noted Gojek driver Benny Tay, who estimated that while half of his passengers took rides to town in the past, only about 10 per cent do so now. The 45-year-old, who has been driving for about two years, said this could be due to many people still working from home. "The shorter rides (between or in heartland areas) are obviously cheaper, so this impacts our earnings," he said. More on this topic Related Story Cabbies, private-hire drivers and operators to get additional $112m in aid; new private-hire drivers must be citizens, at least 30 years old Related Story Move to harmonise private-hire, taxi rules sparks call to do more But Gojek Singapore is seeing hopeful signs of traffic picking up with more office workers likely to return to their workplaces as the coronavirus situation stabilises. It has noted a 30 per cent increase in trips to and from the Central Business District since September. Traffic to the Marina Bay Financial Centre, OUE Downtown 2, AXA Tower and Guoco Tower has edged up significantly, said Gojek, which projects that "we are in a good position for growth". Still, drivers and companies are not expecting prevailing ridership to change dramatically any time soon. Nightlife, the key to many drivers' income, remains subdued. A Grab spokesman said rides during this year's festive season will not be like last year's, as safe distancing measures have put a brake on large-scale celebrations. More on this topic Related Story Private-hire, taxi trade must be seen to be doing more after receiving additional Covid-19 aid Related Story Coronavirus: $77 million package to help taxi, private-hire drivers ComfortDelGro said "demand may slowly edge up but the increase is not expected to be huge". This spells woe for those used to driving at night, who find it difficult to switch to driving in the day after years of plying the night shift. "I tried but it's very difficult. It's very hard for the body to adjust. Things just look different in the day, I find it difficult to navigate," said 57-year-old taxi driver Anthony Tan, who has been driving from 6pm to 6am for the past 12 years. He said he used to take home about $100 a day after deducting fuel and rental expenses. He now averages $40 a day. "Things are dead after 10.30pm. Some days I think of giving up, but I'm not sure what I'll do," he said. Gojek driver Ishafizan Buang expressed the same sentiment. "There is barely anything at night," lamented the 41-year-old. The father of 11 children, aged five months to 15 years old, added: "Perhaps you get a ride or two if you hit the right spots like Telok Ayer or Bukit Timah, but the pubs are shut and there are no passengers to be picked up at midnight." The plight of the drivers and the significant hit the industry has taken from the pandemic may not seem apparent to some commuters. More on this topic Related Story Interactive: Covid-19 through my eyes Related Story How the world lost one million lives to Covid-19 Graduate student Jyan Ong said he has not seen a discernible difference in prices or the number of drivers on the road. Ms Michelle Low, 32, who works in finance, said: "I try to be nice to my drivers and engage in conversation with them to brighten their day. 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