SINGAPORE — Having newly-licensed taxi drivers take on the role of relief drivers may help cabbies meet the distance requirement under the new taxi availability standards, said National Taxi Association (NTA) adviser Ang Hin Kee yesterday.

In addition, taxi drivers can look forward to having a mediation system that helps resolve disputes between drivers, operators and external parties, he said.

The two proposals were part of 10 recommendations the taxi union had put forward to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) last month, to help taxi companies meet the requirement of having 70 per cent of their fleet clock at least 250km daily.

Speaking at the first National Day Observance Ceremony held by the taxi union, Mr Ang revealed that the two suggestions have “got more early success” while the others are still being “assessed on the possibilities of them being implemented” in discussions with the LTA.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, the LTA said the NTA’s recommendations are still under review.

“We will share more details when ready,” said an LTA spokesperson.

In late June, the LTA launched a new online matching portal for hirers and relief drivers. Mr Ang, who is also a Member of Parliament, said the union is monitoring the success of the portal. “If it doesn’t quite achieve its outcome, then we may have to find different strategies,” he added.

As the economy starts to restructure, Mr Ang warned that becoming a taxi driver is no longer about just having “a Class 3 licence, knowing the roads and passing a driving test”.

To remain competitive, cabbies are required to constantly market themselves, upgrade their skills and gain new expertise.

He said: “In the context of today, (being a) taxi driver is no longer purely an easy option. You need to meet certain standards with regard to availability and service. You need to know how to plot your own cost and revenue ... (and) your business clientele.”

There are 97,940 taxi vocational licence holders currently.

When asked if smaller operators can survive in the highly competitive market, Mr Ang felt “there is room for niche operators” that focus on “certain segments of the market”.

He suggested that taxi operators be assessed based on quality indicators that “address the needs of the people in the industry” instead of purely “physical” targets under LTA’s taxi availability standards.

“One of our suggestion for indicators would be how operators treat their cabbies and hirers. Do they have a fair hirer agreement? Do they co-invest in their training or CPF? How do they assist them with disputes, accidents and assault cases?”

National Trades Union Congress President Diana Chia and Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, who attended the celebrations, helped distribute 20,000 mini Singapore flags to taxi drivers. Woo Sian Boon