S'pore taxi & private hire drivers can transition to bus captains under new employment pathway
Drivers will be able to reskill on a part-time or full-time basis to maintain flexibility.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling introduced a new employment pathway to assist taxi and private hire car drivers in transitioning to bus captains. This initiative is part of the government's broader plan to gradually adopt autonomous vehicles (AVs) to enhance connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Sun highlighted that while technology can provide more commuting options, it may also impact transport-related jobs. To ensure workers have diverse options, the government aims to support them through structured employment pathways, a training incentive scheme, and enhanced outreach and career guidance. The new Point-to-Point Driver to Bus Captain Pathway, developed in collaboration with the Land Transport Authority, the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, the National Taxi Association, and the National Transport Workers Union, aims to equip taxi and private hire car drivers with the necessary technical and operational skills to become bus captains.
Drivers can choose between part-time or full-time training, with the programme lasting between two to six months. Taxi and private hire car drivers holding a Class 4 licence can complete the training faster and transition more quickly. This pathway is intended to be one of several options for drivers, and the government does not have a target placement rate.
Bus captain roles are being made more attractive through flexible work arrangements and salary increases, with Yeo Wanling, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, expressing the government's commitment to providing good jobs in the transport sector.
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