TL;DR – This comes after the NTA and NPHVA reached out to LTA for an explanation and clarifications on behalf of the taxi and PHV driving community.
To better understand the work concerns, needs, and aspirations of workers, NTUC conducted a focus group discussion with more than 40 female taxi and private-hire vehicle drivers on 15 November 2022.
This engagement session is part of the NTUC’s year-long engagement series, called the #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations, to engage workers and co-create solutions to better the lives of workers in Singapore.
This engagement session came very timely, especially after a taxi driver was issued a warning letter by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for failing to search for an item left behind by a passenger in July 2022 – to which many taxi and private hired vehicle (PHV) drivers have expressed their concerns about.
In case you haven’t heard, on 26 October, Facebook user Ong Boon shared a photograph of a response letter he received from LTA to the taxi driver’s appeal against the warning, which he had made through his Member of Parliament (MP), Tin Pei Ling on 11 October.
The letter stated that investigations had found out the taxi driver had failed to search his taxi for property left by the passenger at the end of the trip, and hence, he is liable for the offence of “Failing to search vehicle for any property accidentally left behind by the hirer” under rule 39(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Vocational Licenses and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors, Trishaw Riders and Passengers) Rules.
LTA also stated in the letter that they are satisfied with the investigation findings that the taxi driver is indeed liable for the offence, and hence LTA is unable to rescind the written warning despite the taxi driver’s appeal.
NTUC Singapore reached out to LTA
On 11 November, Pasir Ris-Punggol MP Yeo Wan Ling, who is also an adviser to the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), and National Taxi Association (NTA), put up a Facebook post in which she said that NTUC Singapore had received feedback from drivers about the incident.
In her Facebook post, Yeo said that both the NTA and NPHVA were concerned about the warning received by the taxi driver and that NTUC Singapore had reached out to the LTA for an explanation and clarifications about the matter on behalf of the taxi and PHV driving community.
“LTA clarified that this is a long-standing rule, and serves as a good practice on the part of the driver,” Yeo added.
Yeo also shared that LTA has decided to withdraw the warning letter, adding that the intent of the letter was to remind the driver of such good practices and the LTA has never prosecuted any driver for such breaches.
NTUC will continue to work together with stakeholders to support drivers
Yeo added that the NTA, NPHVA, and NTUC Singapore believe that the safety of the drivers must be a top priority and their work conditions often do not allow drivers to search for items accidentally left behind by passengers.
She then concluded her Facebook post by saying:
“While it is a good practice to have, it should not be an obligation that attracts penalties. We thank the LTA for withdrawing the letter of warning to our driver and will continue to work together with the LTA and other stakeholders to support our drivers.”