Taxi Fare Increase

Singapore time 9.19 am 18th January 2008

With recent taxi fare increase in Singapore, many Singaporeans are avoiding taxi services. With less demand, some taxi frivers will have to give up the trade. In the end, taxi companies have to bear the cost of taxis not rented out. These taxis have to be snowballed in storage and license delisted. When demand increase, they can be listed again.

The way the authority regulating taxi services is not good. They think in term of taxes government can collect but not the hardship of taxi drivers. Taxi driving now is not a good trade as it is more health problem prone. Many taxi drivers have some form of sickness.

As ownership of taxi is phasing out, the trade is no different from working for others. So most drivers will give up and in the end, taxi drivers will be foreigners. I think the authority does not want to see this.

Taxi driving is a self employed trade, so there is no day off, medical leave, holiday leave etc. The more hours they ply on the road, the moree they money they make. Also the more they can get sick. With ample driving hours and some rest, they should reasonably make at least S$15000 a month. Those who want to make more than S$3,000 a month is courting death or early serious illness.