Some 1,500 taxi drivers have completed the customised SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace (SFDW) programme since ComfortDelGro Taxi and the National Taxi Association (NTA) formed a training committee for cabbies in June this year.
ComfortDelGro Taxi had earlier committed to sending 10,000 taxi drivers for the programme by 2020.
The training committee is supported by NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and NTUC LearningHub.
The customised SFDW was the first programme developed under the training committee, as the union and the company identified that taxi drivers needed digital skills.
The course allows taxi drivers to make better use of digital tools that are available to them, such as the ComfortDelGro Taxi apps, the company’s Cabby Portal and the Mobile Data Terminal.
“We are glad that our cabbies, and even those who are in their 60s and above, have responded well to learning digital skills. Presently, about two-thirds of the 1,500 cabbies who have attended the SFDW course are in their 60s. Despite their age, they have not stopped learning, and have found the course useful. They now know better how apps such as the ComfortDelGro Driver App can help them know the hot spots with high demand for taxis, be kept up-to-date on traffic conditions and eventually get more booking jobs,” said ComfortDelGro Taxi CEO Ang Wei Neng.
Around 15 taxi leaders will also receive further training to help co-facilitate future digital classes.
Known as Training Ambassadors, these taxi leaders have volunteered to co-facilitate one class a week.
To prepare them for this role, they will undergo coaching and technical classes conducted by the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTCi) and NTUC LearningHub.
The Training Ambassadors will provide peer support for fellow taxi drivers who are less confident about learning new skills. They will also be collecting first-hand feedback on the courses and recommend adjustments to the classes according to the needs of the course participants.
One Training Ambassador Volunteer is 60-year-old Pek Ban Choon, who said he is glad he can help his peers.
“Having attended the class myself, I recognise how peer support might help to provide more confidence to fellow cabbies who have to attend classes to learn new skills. Thus, I decided to volunteer when the chance came along. I hope to be able to help more fellow cabbies take up the necessary skills so that they can earn more and improve their livelihood,” he said.
NTA Executive Secretary Danny Tan added that the association is keen to work with other taxi operators and the authorities on industry training opportunities.
