Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

ComfortDelGro, Grab unveil plans to help embattled drivers; airlines, airport establishments get rebates

SINGAPORE — ComfortDelGro cabbies and Grab private-hire drivers will be receiving more help from their respective companies to mitigate falling fares due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Grab drivers who are eligible for the Special Relief Fund will receive up to S$155 per week.

Grab drivers who are eligible for the Special Relief Fund will receive up to S$155 per week.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — ComfortDelGro cabbies and Grab private-hire drivers will be receiving more help from their respective companies to mitigate falling fares due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

This is separate from the S$77 million package that the Government introduced last week to help embattled taxi and private-hire drivers.

ComfortDelGro Taxi said on Thursday (Feb 20) it will be providing cabbies with rental rebates until the end of April 2020, which will cost the company S$10 million.

“We have been monitoring the situation very closely and have received feedback from our cabbies who have been asking for help,” said Mr Ang Wei Neng, the chief executive of ComfortDelGro Taxi, in a press release.

From Feb 21 until the end of March 2020, a daily rental rebate of S$16.50 will be given to each taxi, amounting to S$660 for the period.

This will be followed by a daily S$10 rebate for the entire month of April.

The help package announced last week will see drivers receiving up to S$20 per vehicle per day for three months, contributed equally by the Government and operators.

For ComfortDelGro cabbies, the new rebates mean that they will get a daily rental reduction of S$36.50 till the end of March, S$30 till the end of April and S$20 till May 13.

The extra financial assistance comes amid falling demand for taxi services due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

With tourist arrivals plummeting and an increasing number of companies allowing their staff to work from home to reduce the risk of infection, cabbies have seen their income drop between 20 per cent and 30 per cent.

“We felt that we needed to do more. Hopefully this latest package will help our cabbies ride through the tough times,” said Mr Ang.

“We will continue to watch the situation closely and do more if needed.”

GRAB DOLES OUT ITS OWN INCENTIVES

On the same day, ride-hailing company Grab also announced its plan to assist its drivers.

It is part of the Special Relief Fund that was announced last week.

Eligible drivers will receive up to S$85 per week to supplement their fare earnings between March 2 and May 30.

This is in addition to the Government’s support of S$70 per week.

In total, those who are eligible for the Special Relief Fund will receive up to S$155 per week, or up to about S$2,000 for the entire period, on top of their fare earnings.

“We have been working hard to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 situation on their livelihoods in the past weeks,” said Mr Andrew Chan, Grab Singapore’s head of transport.

Grab is devoting a total of over S$17 million towards safeguarding its drivers’ well-being and livelihoods, the company said.

Grab is also providing additional income support and rental waivers for drivers who may be placed under quarantine, or has been given leave of absence or hospitalised.

Drivers also get free insurance that covers them in the event that they are diagnosed with Covid-19.

AID FOR AVIATION SECTOR

Separately, Changi Airport Group (CAG) has also announced details of its assistance packages to help beleaguered firms.

All airlines that operate flights between mainland China and Singapore will get “landing credits”, CAG said in a statement.

Carriers like Singapore Airlines that continue to operate scheduled passenger flights between mainland China and Singapore during the outbreak period will get a 100 per cent landing charge rebate for these flights.

Singapore carriers operating scheduled flights will also get rebates on parking and landing charges, as well as regulatory fees.

Meanwhile, retail, food and beverage, and service operators at Changi Airport will receive a 50 per cent rebate on their basic rentals for six months from February.

This is in addition to an automatic rental offset tied to passenger movements at Changi Airport.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the S$20 rebate for ComfortDelGro cabbies will last until the end of May. This is incorrect. The rebate ends on May 13. We are sorry for the error.

Related topics

Wuhan virus coronavirus Covid-19 LTA transport

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.