ComfortDelGro introduces a new full-time employment scheme for taxi drivers where taxi drivers can sign on full-time.
Singapore’s largest taxi operator, ComfortDelGro, is experimenting with a new employment model that could redefine what it means to be a taxi driver in our city. The company has launched a pilot scheme where taxi drivers can now become full-time employees, with a secure monthly income and additional benefits, in contrast to the traditional model where drivers rent their vehicles and pay for their own fuel costs.
Under this proposed arrangement, drivers would work set hours and receive a monthly base salary of S$1,800. Aside from enjoying perks like medical and annual leave, CPF contributions, they would also have a $50 mobile allowance. The pilot scheme, which online employment advertisement is currently running until the end of March 2024, offers working hours options, including a four-day week of 11-hour shifts or a five-day week at nine hours per day, presenting a structured work-life balance.
Despite the appeal of stability, the new scheme has been met with skepticism from some in the driver community, who are concerned that the S$1,800 salary may not adequately reflect the demands and risks associated with their line of work. “A few drivers felt that earning S$1,800 would be unreasonable considering these hazards,” one driver remarked, discussing issues such as dealing with troublesome passengers during late-night shifts.
ComfortDelGro’s initiative also offers a fresh take on employment benefits within the taxi industry, including coverage of fuel costs and potential bonuses based on performance indicators, which at the press release have not been shared. However, despite this innovative structure, there’s a shared apprehension among drivers about the sufficiency of compensation, as one driver pointed out, “switching to a substantially lower salary of S$1,800 would be unreasonable, and he would be unable to support himself and his family.”
It will be interesting to monitor driver recruitment and job satisfaction levels closely to see if this scheme can indeed fare well in the long-term landscape of ComfortDelGro hiring processes and the broader transport sector.
