[CNA] Mediation system to help cabbies resolve disputes with
companies
Taxi drivers can now turn to a
more structured system to help settle disputes with their taxi
companies quickly and amicably.
The Taxi Industry Mediation
system is a collaboration between the Land Transport Authority
(LTA), taxi companies and National Taxi Association (NTA). It was
launched in July, and is on trial for six months.
The National Taxi Association
receives about 10 cases a week on a range of issues which drivers
face with their taxi companies, insurance firms or between drivers
themselves. A top complaint is drivers feeling they were unfairly
terminated due to service lapses.
"For example, one was rude to
the customer, or didn’t fulfil the booking on time, and after one
or two times the company may decide to terminate the agreement, and
therefore one cannot drive with this operator anymore,” said Ang
Hin Kee, executive advisor of National Taxi Association. “That
impacts their livelihood, and many times it has been such that it's
your word against mine.
“We found that perhaps a
better way is to have parties sit down together through a neutral
body, like a mediation system to work out the best solution moving
forward, rather than people are feeling aggrieved that their
version of the facts are not properly addressed."
Cabbies also often get into
disputes over the amount they have to pay in the event of an
accident.
The association first mooted
the mediation idea in 2013. If parties cannot come to an agreement,
NTA would refer the case to LTA for pre-mediation. If the case is
not resolved at pre-mediation, LTA can refer it to the Singapore
Mediation Centre (SMC) for professional help. If there is still no
resolution, the case can go to a civil court for
adjudication.
When the NTA makes a case
referral, LTA requires up to two weeks to evaluate the legitimacy
of the dispute before convening the pre-mediation session with the
parties. In nearly three months since the trial started, one case
was referred to LTA. The case was resolved amicably during the
pre-mediation stage.
"Let’s say the taxi drivers
have any disputes with company, they know where to go to look for
help,” commented Harry Ng, a taxi driver who works with
ComfortDelGro. “This is fair to the drivers. So, at least it's not
one-sided."
Mr Ang added: "With some
precedent cases that are settled through the mediation, we hope
that future cases can take reference from there, and therefore
disputes can be resolved quickly because (those involved) know now
that there has been a case of this nature resolved before in this
manner."
With a more structured system
in place, NTA also expects to see fewer disputes in
future.
陆路交通管理局与全国德士师傅协会和德士公司合作，设立新的调解机制，让德士司机以更有效的方式解决与公司之间的纠纷。
全国德士师傅协会每星期收到约十宗德士师傅提出的投诉，包括同雇主、保险公司或是其他司机之间的纠纷。
在新的调解机制下，如果双方无法和解，个案将交由陆路交通管理局处理，如果还是无法达成共识，便会由新加坡调解中心跟进，最终才交通过司法程序解决。调解机制今年7月推展,试行半年。
