Taxi and private-hire drivers who are required to be quarantined due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus situation will get additional support in the form of allowances, among others, under a new Tripartite Care Package.
Announced by NTUC on 1 February 2020, the package was drawn up by the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), the National Taxi Association (NTA), the Land Transport Authority (LTA), taxi operators and private-hire platform operators.
Under the package, six taxi operators and four platform operators will give all quarantined taxi drivers and private-hire drivers who are under them an allowance of at least $100.
The six taxi operators are ComfortDelGro, HDT Taxis, Premier Taxis, Prime Taxi, Trans-cab and SMRT. Meanwhile the platform operators are Gojek, Grab, Ryde and TADA.
Additionally, drivers who are members of NPHVA and NTA will receive an additional one-time allowance of $200.
According to NTUC, the additional allowances are meant to help quarantined drivers tide through the loss of income during the 14 days that they are unable to work.
“Our two driver associations have come together to provide additional support to those who are in need. The leaders in the associations are all self-employed drivers themselves, so they can fully understand the plight of fellow drivers if they must stop working for two weeks. We hope the token allowance can help to relieve some of the financial burden faced by affected drivers,” said NPHVA and NTA Advisor Ang Hin Kee.
The announcement came after the Government committed to giving a $100 per day allowance to quarantined self-employed persons – a category taxi drivers and private-hire drivers fall under.
Commenting on the package, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said: “I had Kopi with some of our taxi and private hire leaders. They told me that their income has been impacted by the slowdown of tourist arrival. They are concerned for their income and also their health. However, in the same breath, they told me how our NTA and NPHVA are stepping up to help affected drivers. It is really heart-warming to know that the industry has rallied together to assure drivers that help is available if they need it ... NTUC will do what is necessary to help workers. We will overcome challenges when we work together."
Platform operators Gojek, Grab, Ryde and TADA will also waive vehicle rental fees for quarantined drivers, giving them additional financial relief.
All Singapore taxi firms had already announced on 27 January 2020 a taxi rental fee waiver for quarantined taxi drivers.
LTA Chief Executive Ngien Hoon Ping said: “The NTA’s and NPHVA’s financial assistance for its members who may be quarantined due to the Wuhan virus, together with taxi companies and ride hail operators, is a result of our close tripartite collaboration in the point-to-point industry. This will undoubtedly help those quarantined as a result of their unceasing work in providing point-to-point transport even as Singapore works together to stop the transmission of the virus here.”
