Taxi operators SMRT and Trans-Cab Services have
started to impose penalties on drivers who failed to meet taxi
availability standards.
SINGAPORE: Some taxi operators have started to impose penalties
on drivers who failed to meet taxi availability standards.
Drivers from SMRT and Trans-Cab Services recently received
notices about the penalties, which include cuts in financial
incentives.
In January this year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) raised
the taxi availability standards to ensure more cabs are on the
roads to serve commuters.
SMRT taxi driver Joseph Koh received a surprise SMS from his
operator recently.
Mr Koh was told his hiring contract will not be renewed because
he failed to meet the taxi availability standards.
He has been asked to return his Toyota Crown taxi next
month.
"I felt shocked and disappointed, because I worked for so long,
and I tried my best to work with the company. I still need a job
anyway to feed my family," said Mr Koh.
Channel NewsAsia understood more than 30 drivers have been
affected.
Taxi companies that are unable to meet the taxi availability
standards will face financial penalties.
These companies also need to comply with the standards in order
to be eligible to grow their fleet.
Under the revised standards, operators have to ensure 80 per
cent of their taxis clock a minimum daily mileage of 250
kilometres.
In addition, 80 per cent of their fleet must be on the roads
during peak periods.
SMRT taxi driver Jimmy Goh said: "We are required to drive from
6am to 11am, and also in the evening from 5pm to midnight so how
can we complete two peak hours?
"We can try our very best, but at most we can only complete one
peak hour. In this case, we will not be able to fulfil the TA (taxi
availability)."
Drivers like Mr Goh could lose financial incentives under SMRT's
revised quarterly rental rebate benefit scheme.
If he fails to meet the availability standards, he will not be
able to get a one-day rental rebate.
As for Trans-Cab Services, it will deduct $100 from the
performance incentive package that drivers get.
In a letter to some 800 drivers of its Toyota Wish taxis,
Trans-Cab said that based on its record in the past four months,
Toyota Wish taxis have not been able to meet the taxi availability
standards.
Patrick Teo, secretary of the TransCab Operators' Association,
said: "Normally, they (Trans-Cab) have very good incentives, but
now after the 250 kIlometres TA (taxi availability), they will cut
$100. In a year, it's $1,200. I think with $1,200, drivers can do a
lot of things that can help their families."
Most of the taxi
drivers who can't meet the availability standards are hirers who
drive alone or do not have a relief driver.
They said it has been tough to get another person to share the
load. One of the reasons cited is the difficulty to find compatible
relief drivers.
To help match hirers and relief drivers, the National Taxi
Association is piloting a 'matching' session this year.
The National Taxi Association has expressed its concern and
disapproval of the introduction of financial penalties on taxi
drivers.
"Their actions are
quite regrettable. In fact, what we feel is that operators should
work alongside with us, to find more innovative ways of helping our
drivers attain that standard, rather than passing the
responsibility fully onto their shoulders," said National Taxi
Association (NTA) adviser Ang Hin Kee.
Both SMRT and Trans-Cab have declined to comment on the
penalties that have been meted out to drivers.
Replying to queries
from Channel NewsAsia, LTA said the standards are based on the taxi
fleet and not per taxi driver.
LTA added that most taxi companies are currently able to pass
the first year standards, including SMRT, and hence should not
incur any TA penalties.
It stressed that taxi
companies should help and incentivise their drivers achieve the
service and availability standards, a point that has been
reiterated several times to the taxi companies.
Besides having more taxis on the roads, efforts are also ongoing
to simplify the taxi fare structure.
