New initiative hopes to spur more companies to support flexi-travel
SINGAPORE — There is still a need to change the mindsets of managers on the benefits of flexi-travel, and this takes time, said Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport today (July 30).
SINGAPORE — There is still a need to change the mindsets of managers on the benefits of flexi-travel, and this takes time, said Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport today (July 30).
However, the Government is encouraged by the response so far, she added.
Mrs Teo was speaking at the launch of a new initiative by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) called the Travel Smart Network, meant to spur more companies to create workplaces that support flexible travel. The initiative encompasses a slew of monetary incentives to encourage more employers to support off-peak public transport travel.
From Aug 1, employees under this initiative can also sign up for a corporate travel rewards programme to earn greater points for rewards.
Additionally, from Nov 1, companies can tap on a fund of up to S$30,000 under the new initiative to engage consultants from an approved list to conduct employee travel pattern studies and develop tailored action plans.
They can also apply for the Travel Smart Grant of up to S$160,000 annually, for up to three years, to implement the flexi-travel arrangements. Possible arrangements include the installation of bicycle parking facilities and morning programmes to encourage workers to travel to work early.
To start, the LTA is looking at working with companies located near MRT stations and who have more than 200 staff.
This comes after a pilot launched in 2012, called Travel Smart, where LTA worked with 12 companies to shift employees’ travel patterns.