Ang Hin Kee
Singapore
“But the COVID-19 pandemic has already compelled even countries to relook at their longstanding economic strategy and even geared up to becoming less reliant on others.”
“Will the Ministry consider mirroring the approach taken in the pre-school sector? Childcare centres and kindergartens are licensed under the regulatory framework. This helps to enhance the affordability, accessibility and quality of our pre-schools.”
“Chairman, I have a clarification for the Senior Minister of State Lam. Beyond monitoring the take-up rate of training for aviation crew. I know that the Senior Minister of State takes a personal interest in many transport workers.”
“While we are happy to see those businesses continue to protect and look into the riders' interest but, in the longer term, we may need to consider whether we need to license the operators so that the responsible actions of a few will be the standard for all that are in the industry. With that, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, on the quarantine allowance, over the week, we have spoken to some taxi drivers and private hire drivers, they are very assured that if anyone of them is quarantined, there is a $100 daily allowance given by the Government.”
“One further point of clarification. Grab and Gojek and the likes of Uber are platform operators. When they came onto the Singapore scene, we spent quite a lot of time to persuade them to co-contribute to the MediSave; to find ways to support them in their training; to support them for their healthcare needs although they are freelance dri…”
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“As these apps are able to link commuters to any taxi fleet, the matching process is, therefore, very productive and efficient, making it easier for commuters to get a cab. This is one way which we can make the taxi work harder and it is a smarter approach as well. I have spoken to many of these third-party apps and they have told me that we are merely scratching the tip of the iceberg as far as the use of technology and productivity tools are concerned. I hope that the LTA can speed up the legislation on the role of the third-party apps so that more productivity tools can be incorporated into the third-party taxi booking systems and, as a result, make our taxi services more productive. Mdm Speaker, productivity efforts should also include those who work as freelance sports coaches, adult educators, tour guides and other self-employed workers. As we help companies and individuals to be more innovative and future-ready, let us also do the same for these groups. Help them expand their footprints in overseas markets, take on assignments and projects out of Singapore as well. I, therefore, call on the Government agencies to work with the Labour Movement and the various stakeholders to do more to assist our freelancers and self-employed workers to be innovative, well-skilled and do well Page: 40 in their respective roles. For the second part of my speech, I will do it in Mandarin, Mdm Speaker. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to talk about how to help working mothers. Every Chinese New Year, we look forward to eating handmade pineapple tarts. But some people prefer machine-made pineapple tarts and it is sometimes hard to tell the difference. What I do know for sure, you will get a sore throat, if you eat too much.”
“Page: 39 First, among the 28,000 taxis on the roads, only 66% comprised a hirer and a relief driver sharing a taxi. Ten thousand of them still drive as a one-man operator and drive long hours. It has been tough to look for relief drivers because taxi operators themselves are also struggling to look for drivers to take over as hirers. To this end, I hope that the LTA and taxi operators can explore new ways to reach out to new or the inactive pool of Taxi Driver Vocational Licence holders to attract them to join as relief drivers. Secondly, with many of them spending long hours on the roads and, therefore, more prone to accidents, it will be useful to equip them with skills to drive safer. For example, last year, the NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute and the National Taxi Association announced a funding scheme targeted at training drivers to hone their safer driving skills. And with the SkillsFuture Credit, I am quite happy to note that the unfunded portion from the taxi drivers can, therefore, probably tap on this $500 training grant that is set aside for them. To augment this training, can LTA and operators look at new tools that can detect lane deviation by vehicles or alert drivers to any tell-tale signs of driving patterns that arise from fatigue? These technologies are available in some of the modern vehicles and we hope that such tools can be implemented in our taxis in the future. Of course, hopefully, this will not lead to a corresponding huge rise in rental, otherwise, it will negate the positive impact as more taxi drivers will have to drive even harder to cover the rise in costs. Third, more taxi drivers are also subscribing to third-party taxi booking apps to take on additional bookings.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for letting me join in this debate. In this Budget debate, I hope to draw attention to challenges faced by freelancers and self-employed workers. Indeed, many will benefit from SkillsFuture Credits as they currently do not have an employer who will set aside training budgets in their training needs. Many also struggle to set aside money in their CPF and the additional 1% interest for the first $30,000 in the Special Account is something they will benefit from if they have been conscientiously setting aside money to make voluntary CPF contributions. Alas, many whom I spoke with have not done so. I hope that the Government agencies can in future include freelancers and self-employed workers specifically in their strategies. Take our national productivity efforts, for instance. We can certainly do more with them. A case in point would be our taxi drivers. In a recent Singapore Medical Journal article, researchers from the National University Health System found that fatigue among taxi drivers is high. Many drive long hours and have poor health. They conclude, as we would, too, that a lower prevalence of fatigued driving would lead to lower risks of accidents and increased productivity. Following LTA's introduction of the Taxi Availability Framework in 2013, the percentage of taxis on the roads and daily utilisation of taxis have also increased. More taxis are now available to commuters and there have been a million trips made a day from taxis alone. We should, therefore, find more ways to make our taxis work harder, but not the taxi drivers, as evident in the NUHS study. There are three areas which I think we can help in driving productivity amongst our taxi drivers.”
“The Minister mentioned that for SMEs, they face certain constraints, but another category of workers who may benefit from the SMS will be your freelancers, sport coaches, cabbies, adult educators, who basically also require skills upgrading in order to prepare themselves for the future. Otherwise, for them, they will have to be the business managers, implementors, finance managers and manpower persons themselves. So, I would like to enquire if the Ministry will consider setting aside some resources or efforts to study the needs of freelancers to see whether or not they can be Page: 28 incorporated into its overall plan when it comes to implementing these future strategies.”
“Page: 85 Employers can also work together with the unions to develop and enhance their existing employment contract and terms. With fairer and more reasonable contract and better workplace practices, this will bring about a higher level of trust and transparency between the employer and employee, whether they are rank-and-file or PMEs. In this way, I believe that companies will continue to thrive because they can engage their PME staff better or work through issues together in a harmonious manner. It is imperative that we continue to work together as unions, employers and the Government to expand the areas where we can better look after the needs of our workers. In supporting this Bill, I believe the tripartite partners will demonstrate the resolve to move positively in the right direction and strengthen our collective competitiveness. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with that, I support the amendments to the Bill. 5.06 pm”
“The amendments in this Bill not only set up a useful framework but also guide the tripartite partners to work out the terms of reference, the working mechanism, the facts to be surfaced in terms of disputes and areas where the stakeholders will have to do more work, rather than just depending on the Bill to set up all the required efforts to be done. For the amendments to work effectively, we have to go back to basics. In Singapore, we have strong fundamentals that are built on tripartism. The tripartite partners – the Government, employers and the trade unions – have established trust and forged close working relationships over the years. We share a common vision to achieve continued sustainable growth and a better quality of life at the workplace for our workers. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, our strong tripartism ensures that implementing and educating stakeholders on the intent of such amendments will be executed effectively. Together, we have seen through several major initiatives, such as the re-employment policies and managing excess manpower during the last economic crisis in 2009. Our tripartite partners have been able to navigate the changes together and work out a set of guidelines to aid in the smooth implementation of any challenges and new policies that will benefit the workplace. In my experience, some employers have shared that they are worried about how the new amendments may constrain their business operations. One way to address their concern is to ensure that they have a clear and good understanding of what the amendment in the Bill serves to do, to look at the spirit of the law and to work with the tripartite partners to ensure that their line supervisors, HR and senior management understand this particular amendment.”
“Being knowledge-based workers, the private education sector is one where we expect to see more PMEs joining this particular workforce. Within the rank-and-file category, we also know of many union members who have upgraded and advanced in their careers. To this end, I also represent the Singapore Shell Employees' Union (SSEU) and many workers there share the same trend. The revisions to this Bill are, therefore, timely and responsive to their needs. Many workplace issues faced by our junior or mid-level PMEs are no different from those experienced by rank-and-file workers. In our experience, we have encountered several Page: 84 who have got workplace grievances, such as disputes over employment terms or retrenchment issues in his or her course of work. According to MOM's Labour Market report for the third quarter of 2014, PMEs made up two in three of the residents who were laid off. Over at the NTUC Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability, we see more PMEs seeking career coaching and placement help. This was previously mostly serving our rank-and-file workers but more and more PMEs are requiring assistance at the workplace. Under existing laws, unions can assist PMEs individually in the areas of retrenchment, unfair dismissal, breach of contract and victimisation. The amendments in the Bill will allow our PMEs to be represented as a group by our rank-and-file unions which will also be able to individually represent them, if they face re-employment issues.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, today, the lines between rank-and-file workers and PMEs are blurring. I am not referring to inflated job titles but, indeed, the scope of work of a blue-collar worker versus that of a white-collar worker is no longer as clearly defined as before. In some cases, the way workers are categorised into PMEs or rank-and-file by firms may not truly reflect the actual work done or responsibility held. In the current context, the work of a worker may change or be enhanced or expanded over his employment term. He or she may also be given greater autonomy to execute more important tasks. Many rank-and-file workers have also upgraded their skills and progressed to more senior positions and hold greater responsibilities. The IR Bill amendments in 2002 allowed for limited representation for executives by a rank-and-file trade union. This latest amendment to the Act is a timely one. As indicated by several other speakers earlier, the statistics are showing that the demographics of the Singapore workforce are changing very quickly. More than one in three employees is a PME today and we will expect to see by 2030 two in three being PMEs in the workforce. Today, the current workforce is made up of different groups of workers. Some within the existing group of rank-and-file workers are moving up the ranks, with better skills acquired and experience accumulated and educational qualifications obtained over the years. There are also increasingly more new entrants to the workforce who have tertiary education. I would like to declare my position as the Executive Secretary of the Education Services Union (ESU) which, today, represents five out of every eight private education workers. Of those members that we represent, more than half have tertiary qualifications.”
“I believe, at the heart of this policy lies the desire of the authorities to provide a reason, a strong motivation, for drivers to adopt better and safer driving behaviour. Surely, it is a path worth exploring to arrive at safer roads for all. With that, Madam, I support the Bill.”
“It may speed up such adoption. A case in point is the Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS). The scheme takes into consideration a car's carbon emissions and fuel efficiency to encourage importers and consumers to shift to low emission models. More cars now come with low carbon emissions and the environment has become a lot cleaner. Page: 69 Car manufacturers all around the world are constantly developing newer ways and devices that enable drivers to receive real-time alerts of road hazards; systems that can analyse camera data and alert drivers of potential safety threats, such as impending collisions and unexpected obstacles. I hope that the agencies can consider an approach similar to the CEVS for enabling technologies to be installed for new vehicles. These will make our roads a whole lot safer. Enabling technology need not be expensive; it can be low in costs as well. Drivers need to note the importance of eye health and go for regular check-ups to assess their vision and eye health. Better vision on the roads can be as simple as wearing a pair of spectacles or sunglasses so that the glare from the sun or inadequate eye care due to fatigue may not affect our ability to see properly when driving. Madam, with the proposed amendments, I believe we can work towards cultivating more responsible road use by drivers and road users. In particular, the SDC is an innovative policy to encourage a change in behaviour. Some may argue that it is the responsibility of all drivers to drive safely and there should not be any incentive. In fact, it is my opinion that the reduction of demerit points to make that outcome a reality is more of a motivation than incentive.”
“Today, some high-end vehicles are fitted with safety devices, such as auto-brake functions that slow down vehicles if they sense a pedestrian or a car in the path of their travel; adaptive cruise control or use of sensors, such as radar and cameras to monitor the distance of the vehicle to a lead vehicle, and the system will automatically slow the vehicle down to maintain a safe distance; adaptive headlights which switch on automatically round a bend or when the surrounding lighting is dim; side-view assist sensors which can detect a car in the blind spot and emit an alert with a light in side mirror; backup camera to see what is behind the vehicle; reverse backup sensors which beep when the vehicle is about to hit an object. These devices serve as safety aids to help drivers navigate in a safer manner on the roads. With lower costs, such devices are gradually being introduced to more vehicles, both vocational vehicles and household cars. To this end, I would like to commend ComfortDelGro and SBS Transit for piloting a new smart camera which gives visual and audio warnings on traffic risks while the bus or taxi is in motion. SMRT has also installed a telematic device on their buses to monitor drivers' driving behaviour in real-time and alert them when they have exceeded the speed limit, accelerate or brake too abruptly or negotiate a turn too sharply. It is certainly of great help to drivers if they are alerted when the vehicle is travelling too close to another car or pedestrian. This will aid them in taking appropriate steps to avert an impending collision. To further raise the level of safety on the roads, perhaps TP and LTA can work together to consider issuing rebates to car dealers to install safety enabling technology in their vehicles.”
“For example, simple tasks, like pruning tree foliage to avoid blocking of street lights or traffic lights, reviewing road designs at accident-prone areas, installing road calming designs in housing areas, are some examples. It is heartening to note that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is already installing new road safety features at selected locations from August 2014. The Silver Zone pilot programme's objective is to make our roads safer for senior pedestrians. Improvements include special road signs and markings to demarcate the Silver Zones, ramp-downs for barrier-free access, road humps to reduce vehicle speeds and reducing the speed limit on these roads. I look forward to seeing more estates join the Page: 68 programme. Another area where there have been enhancements to road safety is for roads located outside schools. Currently, those outside primary schools are identified with "School Zone" signs and the roads are painted with red markings to alert drivers that they are travelling within a school zone. Vehicles are required to slow down while driving along the roads fronting the schools. In fact, Madam, incorporating better road designs and engineering considerations that promote road safety should be a planning norm as we plan for new schools, new estates and elderly homes. The fourth area is on enabling technology.”
“However, laws alone will not be enough. We need to educate the public and drive home the point of being responsible road users to both drivers and pedestrians. As such, I also would like to urge pedestrians and cyclists to be more aware of their surroundings when they are on the roads – to check and look out for on-coming traffic from all directions, and, for pedestrians, not to have earphones plugged to their ears, eyes fixed onto their mobile phones or devices while crossing the roads and ignoring traffic that comes from different directions. Other examples shared with me include those faced by taxi drivers who shared that commuters also can play a part. Some commuters have attempted to show the drivers the map to their destination while the driver is on the road and driving, or to pass their phone to the driver while he is driving, so that their friend on the other side of the line can provide directions to the destination. These efforts are dangerous. Do plan your routes beforehand and discuss with the driver before he sets off. Education and enforcement, Madam, need to work in tandem because everyone plays an equally important part to ensure that our roads are safe. To this end, I hope that more resources can be channelled to help our Singapore Road Safety Council mount publicity and educational programmes to meet this goal. On the third area of engineering, specifically on road designs, how roads are designed can also affect the safety of road users, for both pedestrians and drivers. We need to identify potential danger spots early and make safety enhancements.”
“It is important that those who attend the safety course understand and realise the importance of driving safely. Perhaps the course can also consider showing videos of accidents or close shaves arising from unsafe driving. To this end, I sincerely hope the TP will enlist and consult extensively with behavioural experts to make sure that the course meets its intended objective. Nonetheless, this policy reflects a readiness by the authorities to take decisive actions early on to help errant driving behaviour, while, at the same time, benefiting other road users. On enforcement, currently, drivers who use their hands to call or text using a mobile phone while driving are committing an offence. The use of any mobile communication device while driving is an extension of the current laws. The Bill is a move in the right direction; it encourages responsible driving before such a phenomenon becomes more pervasive and results in more injuries or loss of lives. Just like how alcohol impairs judgement, putting an intoxicated driver behind the steering wheel puts other drivers and pedestrians on the roads at a higher risk. Similarly, a driver, whose eyes are glued to his mobile phone or his hands are operating the phone or other devices while the vehicle is in motion, will be distracted as Page: 67 well. Some have shared in this House and elsewhere that they have seen motorists engage in activities, such as having a dog on the lap, applying make-up or smoking while driving. They felt that these should be covered under these amendments as well. In fact, any activity or action that may distract the driver from driving in a safe manner, or result in driving in an erratic or dangerous manner that may endanger the lives of others, is already an offence.”
“Mdm Speaker, these amendments will go a long way towards enhancing road safety and encouraging responsible road use. However, I hope more work can be explored in four other areas to make our roads safer. They are, namely, in the Page: 66 areas of education, enforcement, engineering and enabling technology. On education, I support the TP's plans to implement a voluntary corrective training SDC. Drivers who have accumulated half or more of their maximum allowable demerit points and met the prevailing criteria will be eligible for this course, and subsequently, once completed, have the demerit points reduced. Many vocational drivers I spoke with, that is, those who made a living from driving, welcome this move. They spent more time on the road and cover more mileage than most drivers and, therefore, have a higher probability of encountering incidents on the road. We are not condoning drivers with bad habits, but while addressing the needs of these drivers to stay on the roads and to make a living, we are also making efforts to ensure that our roads are safer. This particular programme represents an innovative way to motivate them. Upon cultivating good driving habits, the incidence of accidents arising from bad habits will be reduced and the livelihood of these vocational drivers safeguarded as well. Content development of the SDC should, therefore, incorporate inputs from behavioural experts on what shapes drivers' driving habits and how to correct bad habits. This will help curriculum planners and driving instructors design better and run more effective courses. We should not end up with drivers going through the motion of attending the SDC, but rather, ensure that it will result in effectively instilling better and more responsible driving habits.”
“However, whether it is for these new jobs, old jobs or even freelance jobs, we should establish and instill a sense of pride in those who choose their respective vocations. Indeed, at the workplace, the live space and the play space, we must continue to offer breakthrough ideas. We need more "integrators" which can connect our businesses, professionals, communities and our families. I have no doubt that we will remain resilient as we continue to bond closer with one another. The examples I see convinced me that these are values and oral history not just shared by our Pioneer Generation, but by today's generation. With the support of the right Government policies and the right environment, we have and will continue to pass on these qualities to future generations to uphold and upkeep. 2.29 pm”
“I am particularly excited by the focus on neighbourhood linkways. The sheltered linkway today is indeed very well-utilised, especially during the morning and evening peaks. Many residents often bump into one another along such linkways and strike up brief conversations. I am keen to be involved in HDB's plans to pilot an idea to re-create our linkway space as venues for deeper interactions. Hence, my only request for MND is for the agency to also pilot such plans in older estates, like Ang Mo Kio. Making available more seats and exhibits are a good start. What we need is a built environment that can generate space which can connect people. To this end, I also hope that LTA can consider the vacant space below elevated MRT tracks. Of course, within safety consideration, we can do more to create community and recreational space. For example, our football cages under expressways are already well received. We can explore more of what we can do with such spaces. For example, the agencies can invite communities and the public to submit ideas on how they want to create more social integration using such space. Today, we celebrate what those in the Pioneer Generation have toiled for and have given us the Singapore we presently live in. On the ground, we see many different examples of good values upheld by newer generations of Singaporeans. These values are manifested in different ways. For example, neighbourliness and residents bonding together through community activities, communicating and engaging one another through apps, group chats and Facebook pages. At the workplace, we have moved from being a low-cost production hub, to a cosmopolitan city. Many are wowed by new industries that we have, such as those Page: 29 in the biosciences, aerospace, data analytics, animations.”
“In 2003, the Korean government initiated a restoration project to inject new life and removed the highway. Today, the river has walking paths on both sides of its banks decorated with artworks. Now, families and friends, as well as tourists, spend time there. It was then a very bold move; the amount of time and money invested, and the inconveniences caused during the restoration works. Back home, I visit the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park fairly regularly. There are increasingly more people using the park for recreation; people exercising, cycling, walking their dogs and even dining. Families have their outings there and couples take wedding photos. The Page: 28 transformation of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park was made possible through efforts to create accessible community spaces for all to enjoy. I am extremely glad that we have such projects where agencies tried to inject new vibrancy to the place and the facilities that we have. The Park Connector Network run by NParks links the parks in Singapore; allowing one to be able to enjoy nature trail from one end of the island to the other. Complemented by PUB's Active, Beautiful, and Clean Waters plan, it further transforms our concrete canals into what we have today in many of our parks and rivers. I have a hope that businesses operating in such areas can partner the community to be even more relevant to the residents. In fact, I would like to suggest that tenders for such sites can also add elements of community projects as key considerations. This will ensure that our parks and rivers can further strengthen their roles as community integrators. To this end, I note that the HDB has just announced that it will pilot new projects to create more space for community bonding.”
“The groups they met included those who feel that they deserve more help from the Government. They want to be given and have their requests acceded to every time. They have also met other groups who were embarrassed. Although they needed help, they were afraid to openly request for assistance. And finally, another group where they can do with some help but they prefer to tough it out on their own. In these cases, the Government can try to assist as much as it can and to create more opportunities for everyone to access the available help that we would generate. However, it is up to each individual to take ownership of their lives, to improve and better their lives and those of their families. Among the dialogue that we shared, there was also a very interesting subject, especially shared by young families and pre-school teachers in my constituency. They told me stories of how neighbours of today pooled together what they owned to be shared. For example, sharing of baby prams, neighbours picking up one another's children from kindergarten when the other parents are busy, or parents watching their neighbours' children play at the playground. This was similar to the old kampong stories shared by our seniors and I am confident that many of us today are able to connect well with parents, our families, our neighbours and our friends. Connecting with our neighbours goes beyond watering plants when you are away on vacation. Such a relationship and sense of belonging takes time to cultivate. Our Government has created more of the right kind of environment for people and families to bond. Let me share an example of a project which I recently visited. The Cheonggyecheon River is located in downtown Seoul had been covered up with a highway built over it.”
“Today, he hires a taxi from a taxi operator, co-shares it with a relief taxi driver and continues to mentor new drivers who enter the profession. He shows them the ropes, urges them to be professional and respect their own vocation. He also listens to grievances shared by them and seeks to help them overcome the difficulties they face. Many other taxi drivers shared with me that they look up to Mr Lee as their senior, as their mentor. The other experience is with Mdm Chew who had a different life journey from many other people. Some years back, she experienced a difficult divorce. Though she had custody of her child, her ex-husband did not provide regular maintenance support. There were housing loans to pay, living expenses and educational fees to pay for the child. Not only that, there was also some degree of social stigma for both mother and child to deal with. She worked hard, brought up her child and even sent her to the university. Today, Mdm Chew has not completely overcome all her difficulties, but she is resolved, to persevere, to stay on the race to offer a better life for the two of them. I also spoke with her child and found evidence of this spirit passed on by the mother. For example, the child is holding part-time jobs in order to pay for her own tuition fees. There are similar examples elsewhere. As a society, we should offer everyone opportunities to succeed. It is heartening to note that the President's Address touched on creating more Page: 27 opportunities for every Singaporean. I shared these with the grassroots leaders, social workers, teachers and young parents in my constituency and they gave me some inputs. They felt that it is imperative that the help extended is founded on the right values.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion. Recently, I took part in several dialogues with residents as well as taxi drivers on the President's speech and Addenda that were shared by the other Ministries. Several people who participated were from the Pioneer Generation. They shared the tough times and belt tightening experience in the earlier years and they worked hard to improve their lives. Times were very challenging. Page: 26 There was a common spirit among them and there was a resolve to make it and to tough it out. I reflected on their insights and felt that there are two key takeaways. First, a resilient individual and secondly, a bonded community. Our pioneers had been through crises and stayed self-reliant. Their "never say die" spirit, especially at the workplace, transformed Singapore to what it is today. Many Singaporeans continue to work hard to improve their lives. The present day may offer different challenges but the approach to overcome them remains the same. I know of two persons who choose to be self-reliant, to hold their heads up high and even seek to pass on this spirit to the next generation. The first is a taxi driver. Mr Lee is now a grandfather in his late 60s but is still actively driving a taxi. He drove a pirated taxi in the 1960s. Many in those days were hounded by gangsters and there was no income security, no social safety net and no assurance of a better life. They were also being labelled as pariah; there was also some humiliation associated with the job. Through sheer hard work, Mr Lee shared that he not only became a legit taxi driver, but he also owned his own yellow top cab, started a family and bought his HDB flat.”
“Thank you, Minister. Earlier, you mentioned that there will be more support on stress management. I think many in the pre-school industry operate in a so-called “良心事业”, a career of conscience. I am calling for more support, especially for teachers who face stress at the workplace. I hope the Minister can elaborate a little more. The Minister mentioned earlier about simplifying and refining SPARKS and the accreditation process. That particular process also adds certain stress to already over-worked teachers and administrators. I look forward to MSF giving more support in the process of ensuring quality, but also understand that a lot of these professionals are already over-worked at the workplace.”
“Madam, on the support for our taxi driver ferrying people with disabilities, the London Cab Taxi Service is a good scheme for the disabled, especially those on motorised wheelchairs. This year, at the Budget, many also welcome the enhanced subsidies announced. It is important that we ensure such good schemes and subsidies reach its intended recipients. Will the Ministry consider working with the relevant agencies to better match the services of these taxis with their potential clients? Perhaps, there can be more tie-ups with non-government organisations, VWOs and hospitals to ensure that the services and subsidies reach the physically disabled users so that at the end of the day, this Budget that wanted to reach out to these intended recipients will be able to provide them better services as they move around Singapore. Page: 8 Disabled Employment and Assistive Technology”
“Mr Chairman, let me first declare my interest as an Executive Secretary of the Education Services Union. Many early childhood educators that I spoke with are passionate about their jobs and want to do better in their roles. We need to quickly implement solutions to attract, develop and retain them. The Minister last year announced a Continuing Professional Development Masterplan for Early Childhood Educators to update their skills, knowledge, attain key competencies and gain experience. In last year's COS, I also proposed designing incentives for teachers who complete certain professional development courses. I am heartened to know that this component is included in part of the Masterplan. My question is: will the Minister be able to share more details of the recognition and incentive scheme, and its implementation dates? Stress Management for Early Childhood Educators My second cut is on stress management. Teaching can, indeed, be rewarding and stressful at the same time. For example, many childhood educators share that they face lack of resources at the workplace, not enough break time, tight manpower at the centre, lack of recognition at the workplace and having to deal with unreasonable demands from various individuals and groups. Can the Ministry share if there are better measures or new measures in place to help them better manage stress faced at the workplace? Of course, this should not be the sole responsibility or domain of MSF and I hope that whatever solution that the Ministry comes up with will involve the roles and participation of other stakeholders as well. Student Care Centres”
“Mr Chairman, last year, the Government announced plans to provide 20,000 more childcare places by 2017, and to this end, 45 new childcare centres will be built this year. I would like to ask: can the Ministry provide an update on the search for locations? What are the challenges it faces in finding these locations? And do the childcare operators face constraints to ramp up and build these centres? Secondly, with more childcare centres, we will need more qualified early childhood education professionals. How has the Ministry worked with operators to ensure that we have sufficient and quality teachers attracted into and stay in this profession? And what can parents and the rest of us do to support such a goal? Childcare/Infant Care Subsidy”
“Just a short clarification. Could it be that the numbers indicate that during peak hours, we have already achieved an optimal use of taxis because, as it is, the ridership has not increased. I do not want to take up too much time in the House but perhaps we should sit down with LTA to examine the statistics that are available to establish whether or not Taxi Availability indicators have, indeed, helped commuters meet taxi demand during peak hours.”
“The ridership data, Madam, if I could, was indicated by LTA at 976,000 rides per day in 2012, and similarly in 2013.”
“Mdm Chair, I have two questions for the Senior Minister of State on taxis. One is, while LTA deems that Taxi Availability (TA) is based on fleet size and not on the individual taxi, the reality on the ground is fairly different. The taxi operators are unable to know which cab is unable to meet the taxi availability standards and has, in practice, insisted that every taxi meets the TA. I would urge that LTA officials may want to go down to the ground and understand the implementation on the ground. It deviates fairly much from the intended objective of what MOT has put in place. Secondly, why is it that the ridership for taxis has remained stagnant in 2013 over 2012 despite the improvement or the implementation of TA indicators?”
“Emergency services and Police vehicles are allowed to enter bus lanes in the event of call of duty, and school buses and factory buses may also use them during bus lane operating hours. Taxi drivers are, however, not allowed to drive along, pick up or drop off passengers along bus lanes and at bus stops during such hours. Drivers have given feedback that, very often, the elderly, including those who carry large parcels or even pregnant women, have flagged down taxis whilst standing at bus stops during the restricted hours. Instances of passengers on wheelchairs have also started occurring perhaps due to the handicapped-friendly features of our buses and at our bus stops. They also prefer to be dropped off at bus stops which are sheltered, especially during rainy weather. Some taxi drivers have taken the risk and, therefore, make the effort to pick up or drop off passengers at bus stops during those restricted hours and these have led to fines which have to be paid by the drivers. As such a public transport option, I would urge the Ministry to consider allowing, on a trial basis, taxi drivers to pick up and drop off passengers at bus-stops at all times and at designated areas. And let us see whether this trial will lead to a better improvement of our services for commuters. Finally, I have to wrap up by saying that many a times, we fail to look into the report in detail, such as the Land Transport Masterplan. The Masterplan, in itself, has a very comprehensive and extensive coverage on how our public transport is going to improve. So, I hope more Members and others can look into the Masterplan and look at how our public transport has, indeed, proven to be a good service for our public in general. Long Taxi Queues”
“Many taxi drivers shared that there are few commuters from 6.00 am to 7.00 am and from 11.00 pm to midnight. However, these time slots are within the peak-hour availability requirements. Although LTA has lowered the requirement for these two time slots, it has not changed commuter demand and, hence, many taxis are still cruising empty during these hours. Can LTA consider removing these two time slots from its TA as far as peak-hour requirement is concerned? Taxi Fare Structure Review On my second cut on taxi fare review. Taxi fares were deregulated in 1998 to allow taxi companies to set their own fares so that it can be competitive. Currently, there are many different flag-down fares for different types of taxis and by different taxi operators. This has caused some confusion amongst commuters. The MOT shared last year that it wants to simplify the taxi fare structure. I would like to urge the Ministry to take a holistic approach in tackling this issue. For taxi drivers, they are price takers, that is to say that they cannot influence the taxi rentals they have to pay nor the taxi fares which they collect. And being self-employed, they have also been absorbing the GST on their rental, the diesel tax levy and ERP charges. And any changes in fares may affect their income Page: 70 with no corresponding changes to their rentals. As such, I urge the Ministry to find a solution that would adequately cover these concerns. Taxi and Bus Lanes On my third cut on taxi and bus lanes. Current bus lane schemes have worked very well and the give-way-to buses scheme has also given priority to buses, enabling a smoother travel for our commuters.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. I will take the three cuts together. On taxi availability, after implementing the Taxi Availability (TA) indicators, recent data from LTA suggest that more taxis are plying the roads during peak hours and also covering longer mileage. Waiting times at taxi stands also shortened. However, recent information showed that the number of taxi trips at 960,000 per day has remained stagnant in 2013 compared to 2012. Some drivers have shared that they are empty cruising just to cover the taxi availability indicators, especially during weekends, early mornings and late nights. Page: 69 I have three inputs for the Ministry to consider. First, some drivers thought if they drive more in one day and less in another, so long as two days' average can meet 250 kilometres, they would have met the TA mileage indicator. In truth, you cannot try to catch up on your daily mileage by driving more on Monday to offset the shortfall on Sunday. Secondly, taxi operators also cannot offset the higher mileage attained by one taxi to average out the lower mileage of another taxi. Furthermore, the Ministry methodology of computing whether the taxi operator meets the taxi availability mileage indicator is based on each taxi meeting the requirements. This system can be onerous and places an extra burden on taxi drivers. Will the Ministry consider adjusting their system to relieve the pressure faced by taxi drivers? Second input. Demand for taxi services on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, especially in the early morning, is generally lower than other days of the week because of a five-day working week. So, can the Ministry consider excluding these days from the computation of the 250-km mileage? Third input. Another indicator is peak-hour availability.”
“Previously, I had called for noise barriers to be installed along elevated MRT tracks to reduce noise level from passing trains. Noise barriers stretching from Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 have been identified for first phase of installation work and to that, I would like to thank LTA for its expeditious work. I understand that the tender was awarded in 2013 for this particular project. With regard to the stretch between Avenue 3 and Avenue 5 Ang Mo Kio, the plan was to implement it from 2017 onwards. Whilst I understand that construction will need to be coordinated with our rail enhancement projects like track sleeper replacements and re-signalling works, I think it is important to recognise the urgency as these tracks are located close to high density flats and schools. Hence, I would like to check if LTA can bring forward the pace of installation at these two stretches as well as other areas in Singapore and what are the challenges they face in doing so.”
“Madam, how well have we done in the efforts of our Civil Service, including those from the Statutory Boards, to help its low-wage workers to earn higher income, improve their employability and re-employment status? What more can we do to help them, including our daily-rated workers, our monthly-rated as well as low-wage civil servants, to improve their livelihood?”
“We hope the Government can do more to help our older workers stay employable. I would like to urge that the Government consider giving the same quantum under the Temporary Employment Credit to the group of freelancers and self-employed who make voluntary contributions to their MediSave. You see they do not have an employer so that they can offset the 1% increase. But if they do make voluntary contribution to their MediSave, perhaps we can extend the Temporary Employment Credit to them as well. I would also like to call for the same amount of Workfare Income Supplement payout to be given to the self-employed, if they qualify for Workfare. Currently, they receive only a portion of what employed workers are Page: 55 receiving. Finally, our freelancers and self-employed workers are a unique category of workforce which also drives the economic growth in Singapore. We need a calibrated and measured approach to help them, of course not only meet their medical needs but also their employment needs. So, let us take it one step at a time. I think we need to start soon. Our economic transformation should also include doing more to help back-to-work women and ex-offenders to stay in the workforce. Madam, with that, I support the Budget. 2.00 pm”
“This includes Page: 54 things like the ability to pay for housing, healthcare, deal with temporary loss of income and save up for retirement. These are challenges faced by employees, but there is a fundamental difference between those who are freelancers compared to those who are employees. For the freelancers and self-employed, they have to make provision for these contingencies on their own. The Finance Minister in this year's Budget announced that the Government will defray employers' share of the increased CPF contribution rate for employees aged 50-55 with a Temporary Employment Credit. This is most welcome. As what hon Member Irene Ng said earlier, this is no time for negative thought. In the past, we had asked for minimum wage. Some Members in this Chamber have asked for minimum wage, whereas others have warned that there may be unemployment resulting from a minimum wage. Today, others are worried that with this increase in CPF contribution rate for older workers, it may lead to their being unemployable because of higher cost. I think we have to see this in context that there are other schemes available across the board from the Government, ranging from the inclusive growth programmes to help companies to upgrade and make their jobs more productive. There are also schemes like PIC. Two years ago, we started the Special Employment Credit to give support to employers when they hire older workers. When you see this in context, we have to understand that, indeed, there may be challenges when older workers want to seek employment. But there is also similar support available for employers to do so. The data also suggests that employment rate for older workers over the years has grown and we welcome this measure.”
“This needs to change even as more freelancers take on certifications but may not be recognised. I hope the Government, employers and buyers of services can speed up the recognition of skills training certification, such as WSQ, or other nationally recognised certifiable courses. We need to do more to raise the public awareness of WSQ and related qualifications. Where in the past, buyers were not sure how to assess the skills level of the freelancers, they can now do so via skills certification. This will enable them to also pay appropriate fees based on the expertise of those freelancers they engage. As an illustration, I recently went to a hair salon and saw that there were different fees charged for different grades of hairstylist. This is in recognition of the different skills level attained by the person who is there working in the shop. I would also like to recommend that we consider giving more segments of freelancers absentee payroll when they go for licence renewal courses or attend WSQ programme on their own. Second recommendation. I think we also can do a little bit more to help our freelancers and self-employed must look for and market their services. For example, next year, we will be organising the SEA Games in 2015. Apart from getting more locals to volunteer to run the event and support by attending the sports event, we should also work closely with Singapore Sports Council to get more Singaporeans to start playing or picking up a new sport. This will open up opportunities for sports coaches and trainers to offer their services so that we not only can participate in the sports but also can be healthy at the same time. The third area is really to give them support so that the freelancers and self-employed can do more to save up for personal contingency.”
“Some guides shared with me that they face conflicts in their remuneration and experience unfair contract terms with travel agents. In considering how to set up a mediation centre, I hope STB can quickly gather views from businesses, tour guides and the union to address such concerns. Similarly, LTA is also working with the National Taxi Association and taxi companies on a mediation scheme to settle disputes between taxi drivers and taxi operators. I am also aware that the Council for Private Education has a compulsory mediation system in place for students and private education institutes. I hope they can extend this arrangement to freelance adult educators who serve the private education institutes. Madam, this year's Budget has a $500 million top-up of the Lifelong Learning Endowment Fund. I think this is a very significant contribution and commitment by the Government to upgrade the skills and employability of our workforce. More workers will be upgraded with this additional top-up of the fund. Of course, this also means that there are more business opportunities for people who are running training institutes and for the adult educators. Page: 53 Our society has a role to play to help those who are prepared to help themselves. And I think it is quite obvious that the pool of freelancers and self-employed in Singapore is growing and becoming an integral part of our workforce. I have three specific recommendations that I feel that we can do to help our freelancers and the self-employed. Firstly, about recognising and appreciating their capabilities. I have been looking at the newspapers and I notice that it is still not common to see the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) as a criterion in job advertisements or skills specifications in tenders or quotations.”
“Many of us commented that they are envious that the self-employed and freelancers are highly independent. They can go where they want; they can start work when they want. But not many are aware of the challenges they face. Recently, I met with many of them at the NTUC event to discuss views and recommendations on MediShield Life. These are some of the comments that Page: 52 they shared with me. They do not receive CPF contributions by employers because they have none. They do not enjoy medical or leave benefits. They are also not assured of a steady stream of income. This is not to say that these are their concerns. Rather, they are most worried about the fact that they may not be able to pay for premiums for insurance, housing loan, medical cost, should they lose their ability to work and therefore have no income. They shared with me their fearful experience during the 2003 SARS outbreak when, for example, the tourism sector was so badly hit. Many taxi drivers and tour guides had little or no income for a fairly long period of time. We need to tailor our programmes to help the freelancers and self-employed. It is heartened to know we are not starting from ground zero and there have been good progress in the right direction by several agencies. Not so long ago, we debated on the amendments to the Singapore Tourism Board Act offering greater protection to our tour guides by increasing enforcement against illegal guiding. This is important as it will affect the quality and livelihood of our local tour guides. The Minister for Trade and Industry has also agreed to consider my recommendation to put in place a capability development plan to upgrade our tour guides.”
“However, we cannot just depend on our Government to do more. We also need to call on community, businesses, employers, colleagues and family members to continue to support our working mothers. A second group of concern is the ex-offenders. This is despite the fact that efforts to equip offenders to enhance their employability and facilitate work reintegration have led to more inmates bagging a job before their release. However, recent report from Singapore Prison Service showed that recidivism rate for ex-offenders has gone up. In 2013, more ex-offenders commit a crime within two years of completing their reformative training or jail sentences. Among those ex-offenders I met, many continue to have low self-esteem, and shared that they find difficulties in getting jobs and acceptance at the workplace. Could it be that the effectiveness of our current initiatives has hit a plateau? It is therefore imperative that we do more to help ex-offenders re-integrate back to society and be an active member in our workplace. Lastly, freelancers and self-employed. Earlier, hon Member Ms Tan shared about taxi drivers and other groups who may not benefit from this year's Budget. At the last Budget, I also shared about this vulnerable group of workers, that is, freelancers and the self-employed. This is not to be confused with people who own and operate their own shops, the shop proprietors and the likes of them. This group can include tour guides, adult educators, taxi drivers, sports coaches, real estate agents and others. While they work in a non-traditional employment arrangement from the rest of us, their working challenges and environment are no different from 85% of employed residents who are employees of another company.”
“Mdm Speaker, I commend this year's Budget for creating opportunities for the future and providing immediate help for those in need. A key focus this year is about investing in our people and giving workers access to training and good job opportunities. Strong support is also given to businesses, especially SMEs, to become better, productive and competitive. I would like to share insights and maybe recommendations for three groups of workers who are affected by this year's Budget. Firstly, back-to-work women. Last year, I called for more employment assistance for back-to-work women. Through initiatives such as WorkPro, employers can obtain incentives to create a supportive work environment. Consequently, the data for females who wish to return back to work has painted a positive picture. Overall, female labour force participation rate rose from about 51% in 2003 to 58% last year. However, for those in the prime working ages of 25 to 54, the improvement is very slight, only by 0.3% over 2012. Previously, I had requested for Special Employment Credit for employers who hire back-to-work women. Maybe the Government can consider giving more support to first mover companies who are prepared to do more in family-friendly practices such as flexible work arrangements, work from home, childcare, nursing facilities at Page: 51 workplace. So more back-to-work women can join the workplace. Many I spoke to are quite happy with the enhancements to the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme, which help defray costs when they go back to work. Having more and better childcare support is also important and the plans to increase the number of childcare centres and enhancing the quality of early childhood educators will also give our working mothers much assurance.”
“Thirdly, I would like to recommend that the marketing collateral by STB, especially those in their overseas office, feature prominently the identification and value of using licensed guides. Perhaps, STB can also strengthen its assistance in marketing the services of our tour guides on its websites. Madam, at the end of the day, for visitors, we want them to have an enjoyable and memorable experience in Singapore. I believe that good guides will enhance their experience to appreciate and understand the significance of an attraction or cultural tradition in Singapore. For guides, they will need an effective market to operate in and where their professionalism will be acknowledged and supported. For the industry, I hope that they will work closely with STB to understand the amendments and to comply with the rules. Finally, for STB, I urge that, apart from enforcement, they do two other things. One is to have in place plans to ensure a pool of professional and licensed guides. And, secondly, to strengthen their own enforcement team within STB with experienced staff who will be able to carry out and conduct the enhanced regulations that we will put in place following the passing of this amendment Bill. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. 3.30 pm”
“Or that more visitors to Singapore are free and independent tourists who may not rely on tour guides for their visits? Guides have shared that their income has remained stagnant and, most of the time, they attribute this to the fact that illegal guides are undercutting them and, therefore, resulting in stagnant income. And, therefore, many do welcome the amendments and the strengthening of the legislation to take care of those who are illegal guides. It brings me to the next question, which is, do we have a manpower plan in place to ensure that Singapore has sufficient tour guides to provide good quality guiding services? Do we have a clearly mapped out capability development plan for our tour guides? Do we know the age profile of our guides and whether or not they are an ageing workforce and there is a new pipeline of guides coming onstream to ensure that we have a constant flow of tourist guides to serve our visitors coming to Singapore? I have three specific recommendations for the Ministry to look at. Firstly, some guides face conflicts in their payment and unfair contract terms with travel agents. Instead of pointing them to legal recourse, can they be better served through processes, such as mediation? Perhaps, STB can, in addition to looking at the code of practice, also consider setting up a mediation centre with the involvement of agents, tour guides and the union. Page: 51 Secondly, guides currently pay about $72 every three years to renew their guiding licence. I would like to suggest that this amount be waived, reduced or even tiered in accordance with the professional level of competency attained by the guide. This is in recognition of, and serves as an incentive for, those who invest heavily in skills deepening.”
“Firstly, a "tourist" is now defined as an individual who visits Singapore for recreation, pleasure, business or any other purposes. And a "tourist guide" is defined as an individual who personally provides guiding services to a tourist for remuneration. Singaporeans, Singapore PRs and those on social visit pass are excluded from this term. Tour guides I spoke with are concerned that existing activities that are fee-paying may become confused and unclear. They feel that this may impact on their livelihood, increase the chances of travel agents trying to bypass their services to cut costs and, consequently, impact the experience of our visitors. For example, there are guides who conduct heritage or history tours for expats who are living here for long term. In this case, are those who take part in such Page: 50 activities considered "tourists" under the amendment since they are locals and also they pay a fee for the guiding services? Some guides shared with me that they felt the definition of a tourist should instead be activity-centric rather than person-centric, that is, not so much their ICA status but what kind of activities they participate in. They feel that anyone who participates in a sightseeing activity and where guiding is needed can be deemed a visitor, whether you are local or international. I also recall that during the SARS period, STB also actively promoted domestic tourism to keep the industry going. Another related question is: how will the amendments impact on the livelihood of our guides? Despite the rapid growth in visitor arrivals, the number of tour guides has remained fairly constant over the last few years. Based on the figures, can we assume that existing guides are, therefore, taking more assignments and earning more income?”
“Mdm Speaker, the tourism sector is, indeed, a growing and important economic driver. As illustrated by the Second Minister earlier, it has received an increased number of visitor arrivals and tourism receipts. Many make their living, whether directly or indirectly, in this sector. Indeed, to grow this industry, we need quality attractions, F&B, hotels, and to upkeep our status as a premier destination for tourists, we need to ensure that our visitors have an enjoyable experience. To make the visit a memorable one, having a quality experience with our tour guides is, indeed, an important component. The key to what constitutes a good tour guide is their level of professionalism; whether they are constantly updated with information on events and attractions. Do they attend training courses? Are they knowledgeable about heritage, history and tourism offerings? And do they possess good language proficiency and maintain professional conduct? In Singapore, only licensed individuals and those that are certified by the Singapore Tourism Board can carry out guiding. As mentioned earlier, about 2,400 of them possess such a licence. The ground feel that I get from speaking to tour guides is that there are about 400-plus to 600 who are active on a full-time basis. In this instance, what it really needs is that many depend on guiding as a career, not just as a part-time job. I look at this amendment Bill and assess how will it contribute to enhancing the quality and livelihood of our tour guides. Understandably, the legislative changes focus on enforcement and strengthening the regulations against illegal guiding. Whilst most of the amendments are in the right direction, there are a few areas that I hope to get some clarity from the Minister.”
“I would like to thank the Minister of State for working very hard to get more comprehensive support, such as the training award as well as the continual professional development for teachers involved in Mother Tongue Languages. I am just wondering if there is a similar collaboration with WDA CET centres so that there is a broader base, beyond just what MOE can do and the facilities available under MOE, so that teachers who want to pursue other alternative courses under the CET programme can similarly take advantage of the schemes and proposals that the Minister of State mentioned earlier.”
“I understand what the Senior Minister of State is alluding to, as far as options available to taxi drivers are concerned. But in today's context of a lot of the hiring agreements, the terms that are drafted in the agreements are highly disadvantageous to the taxi drivers to be able to move from one company to another company. There are a lot of incentive programmes packaged into the agreements whereby you cannot simply leave because another company offers you a better deal. They will have a package to say that if you drive for two years, you get this incentive; if you put in this amount of deposit, you have to drive for five years, and so on. As far as the driver is concerned, he is unable to shift just because the rental is cheaper elsewhere. So, in a sense, the market is not working as effectively to allow a driver to have that portable scheme to be able to navigate between options just to save cost.”
“I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State, in MOT's effort to try to simplify the fare, could MOT also ensure that the rental that is levied on taxi drivers is also simplified? Today, many assume that higher flag-down fare means drivers earn a better take-home income. But the take-home income has not changed due to the increase in rental fares. Having a mere increase in the flag-down fare simply means that they partially offset the increase in costs. So, in MOT's effort to try to simplify the flag-down and other fares, I hope MOT will balance the views that taxi drivers also have to bear higher rental costs.”
“To illustrate, LTA can measure how effective the taxi operators are matching the hirers to a relief driver. A set of clear guidelines can also be developed to regulate the shared responsibilities relating to rental and vehicle maintenance between the hirer and relief driver, and also checking that the operators share in these responsibilities as well. Page: 110 When their taxi fleet does not meet the minimum mileage requirement, some taxi operators issue warning letters and threaten to remove those drivers who are unable to meet the standards. Eventually, they choose to retain only the drivers who can help them meet the desired KPIs. We should ensure that taxi operators do not merely "churn" the drivers so as to fulfil the requirements set by LTA. For the drivers, we want to develop a steady pool of career drivers who are committed and motivated. They can get good support from the operators to find relief drivers and enjoy a portable scheme whereby they can switch to a different taxi company that offers more attractive terms. With some of these proposed amendments and refinements, I believe that LTA can better create an environment where taxi operators can operate competitively, treat their hirers and relief drivers fairly, maintain higher service standards and, finally, meet the conditions to enable them to enlarge their fleet size. With that, Sir, I support the Bill. 6.18 pm”
“Taxi hirers are under immense pressure and many struggle to look for relief drivers to assist them. As such, hirers are squeezed in between, as relief drivers now know that they have been given additional bargaining power. Many have shared with me that, in their experience, relief drivers can determine when they want to drive and at what rental rates they can charge the hirers. As a result, this often leaves the hirers bearing the bulk of the responsibilities. Another example that operators are passing on the higher COE cost is in the form of higher taxi rental. While commuters today express their confusion and unhappiness at the different and higher flag-down fares, many taxi hirers have also expressed their concerns that higher rental fees are affecting their take-home income. To taxi hirers, higher flag-down fares merely offset the increase in rental fees partially while operators continue to maintain their business margin. Taxi operators should provide more supportive conditions to taxi drivers to help them. They can introduce incentive schemes to motivate the drivers. Having programmes to keep drivers safe, fit and healthy will be welcomed as well. They can also offer assistance programmes to help the drivers who face difficulties in getting relief drivers. There are valid concerns that operators are fully passing on the taxi availability indicators to the drivers. The National Taxi Association (NTA) had earlier urged LTA to review the taxi availability indicators, set up a mediation system and consider having new taxi vocational licence holders serve as relief drivers for a period of time. I urge that LTA take them into consideration to improve the situation on the ground.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, let me first declare my role as the Executive Adviser of the National Taxi Association. LTA should, indeed, put in place indicators that enable the taxi industry to operate competitively and grow its size upon meeting certain conditions. Taxi fares and the supply of taxis were previously deregulated to inject greater competition. The aim is to allow fares to be set competitively and that commuters can enjoy high quality of service. To do so, taxi operators have to comply with the Quality of Service (QoS) standards in call bookings, safety, taxi drivers' conduct and so on. I would like to propose that determinants to measure taxi operators' ability to increase their fleet size should include how they expand the relief driver pool, how fairly they draft the hiring agreements and what efforts they undertake to look into the welfare of their hirers and relief drivers. In a truly competitive landscape, taxi operators should be able to do more to provide for their drivers. Currently, operators have the full bargaining power and can terminate the hiring agreements of drivers should they fail to meet the standards. In some sense, operators can "churn" the drivers' pool. For instance, there are currently over 90,000 taxi vocational licence holders but only about 28,000 are hirers and a small number of active relief drivers. As such, taxi operators can possibly access an untapped pool and an ever-growing pool of new vocational licence holders. Other than raising the service standards, taxi availability indicators were recently implemented to get taxi operators to meet peak hour taxi demands and Page: 109 shorten waiting time. For drivers who are unable to meet this standard, they may have their hiring agreement terminated or penalties imposed by the operators.”