The surges in fares, as well as booking difficulties for taxis and private-hire vehicles, are due to fewer drivers and a larger demand for rides, said Transport Minister S Iswaran in Parliament on Aug 1.
The number of active taxi and private-hire car drivers decreased by 18 per cent to about 57,000 drivers from January 2020 to June 2022, he said in a written reply to Mr Saktiandi Supaat (PAP-Bishan-Toa Payoh), who had asked if the Transport Ministry had conducted a study on the recent issue of taxi and PHVs higher fares and booking difficulties.
Mr Iswaran also said that the fall in the number of drivers was due to the Covid pandemic, but after restrictions were eased earlier this year, the demand for taxi and PHV services has increased.
“Daily point-to-point trips have increased by 30,000 in June 2022 compared to February 2022. However, the number of point-to-point drivers has not increased as rapidly as demand, and this has resulted in fare surges and booking difficulties,” CNA quotes the minister as saying.
He added that it will be some time before increased demands are met, but that recent actions, such as the increase in vocational licence applications, would help increase the supply of drivers in the next months.
“Like other sectors, the P2P sector will require time to adjust to the surge in demand after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. We are seeing signs that the market is responding. Vocational Licence applications have increased recently, and some drivers who left the P2P sector may progressively return in response to the higher demand.
These will boost the supply of P2P drivers in the upcoming months,” Mr Iswaran said.
Commenting on the Transport Minister’s remarks, many netizens chose to underline that taxi and PHV drivers have a difficult and low-paying jobs.
/TISG
Greater demand, but fewer Taxis & PHVs now despite relaxed Covid-19 restrictions
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