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CNA
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- CNA
22 drivers nabbed for providing illegal ride-hailing services in Singapore, to and from Malaysia
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) caught 22 drivers for providing illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore and to or from Malaysia, and impounded their vehicles, it said on Saturday (Jul 12). The drivers were booked at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay in an operation on Friday, following tip-offs from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and members of the public, LTA said in a Facebook post. It added that commuters should not use such services as they lack proper insurance, pose safety risks to passengers and affect the livelihoods of licensed drivers. In response to queries from CNA, an LTA spokesperson said that only licensed providers from both Singapore and Malaysia can provide cross-border services, with each country given a quota of 200 taxis for such services. There are close to 300 Singapore- and Malaysia-registered taxis currently licensed for such services, added the spokesperson. Licensed taxis must use designated pick-up and drop-off points – the Ban San Street terminal in Singapore and Larkin Sentral in Johor – when outside their home country, but can take and alight passengers anywhere within their home country. "This arrangement ensures that foreign taxis do not ply the roads illegally to provide point-to-point services outside their home country," said the spokesperson. LTA said it will continue to take "firm action" against illegal point-to-point services, including illegal cross-border transport services. CROSS-BORDER TRANSPORT SERVICES Under the Road Traffic Act, all vehicles, including foreign-registered ones, must have a valid Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL) to provide taxi or chauffeured private-hire car (PHC) services. Offenders may be fined up to S$3,000 (US$2,340) or given a six-month jail term, or both. They may also have to forfeit their vehicles. Since 2022, 94 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services using foreign-registered vehicles, and all had their vehicles impounded, said the LTA spokesperson. "It is illegal for Malaysia-registered private cars or PHCs to provide cross-border or ride-hail services within Singapore," added the spokesperson. Besides a PSVL, Malaysia-registered taxis must also obtain an ASEAN Public Service Vehicle Permit to operate across borders. In a Facebook post on LTA's operation, Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said: "Foreign-registered vehicles providing illegal private-hire car services harm the livelihoods of our local taxi and private-hire car drivers." She added that LTA will increase the coverage and frequency of its enforcement actions against such illegal services, and that it will not hesitate to push for heavier fines or to impound vehicles used for such services or seek their forfeiture.
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Singapore cracks down on illegal ride hailing at Changi and Gardens by the Bay, 22 drivers caught for offering ride to Malaysia
SINGAPORE, July 12 — Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said today it booked 22 drivers for providing illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay, following tip-offs from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and members of the public. The enforcement operation, which took place yesterday, also saw the impoundment of the vehicles involved in the unauthorised transport of passengers across the border to Malaysia and also within Singapore. 'Commuters should avoid using such illegal services. They lack proper insurance and pose safety risks to passengers. They also affect the livelihoods of licensed drivers,' the LTA said in a Facebook. The authority added it would continue firm enforcement against illegal point-to-point transport, including cross-border services operating without a valid Public Service Vehicle Licence. Under Singaporean law, those convicted of providing unauthorised ride-hailing services face fines of up to S$3,000 (RM9,960), imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Their vehicles may also be forfeited under current regulations. In December last year, the LTA said it arrested 12 drivers for offering illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore and to Malaysia. The LTA said that their foreign-registered vehicles were also impounded during the operation at Changi Airport. It stated that only Singapore- and Malaysia-registered taxis approved by LTA and Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency can provide cross-border rides, with Malaysia-registered taxis also requiring an Asean public service vehicle permit. These licensed taxis can only operate at the Ban San Street Terminal in Rochor and cannot offer point-to-point rides in Singapore to ensure fairness for local drivers, according to the Singapore Ministry of Transport and LTA.
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Grab to pause changes to bonus scheme after calls from national private-hire drivers' group
This update was broadcast to all drivers on Grab's platform via an in-app message at around 4.45pm on June 25. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Grab to pause changes to bonus scheme after calls from national private-hire drivers' group SINGAPORE – Ride-hailing platform Grab will delay the roll-out of changes to its incentive schemes, which were initially slated for July 1. In a joint statement by Grab and the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), both parties said on June 25 that Grab has decided to pause the planned changes following discussions with the NPHVA and in response to feedback from Grab drivers. This move was made to ensure that concerns from NPHVA and Grab drivers are fully addressed before further changes are rolled out, they added. This update was broadcast to all drivers on Grab's platform via an in-app message at around 4.45pm on June 25. In the message, Grab said there will be no changes to the existing monthly bonus scheme for now. After Grab announced its upcoming revisions to the existing monthly bonus scheme on June 20 , the NPHVA publicly requested the ride-hailing operator to delay the changes on June 23 due to concerns over reduced earnings for most full-time drivers. This is because the upcoming Streak Zones scheme will cut the percentages of bonuses across tiers and trip milestones . For instance, the bonus for the 300th to 499th rides, which now starts at 8 per cent for drivers at the lowest level, will be halved to 4 per cent. Currently, those who clock at least 300 rides also earn a cash bonus of $30, $80 or $100, depending on their incentive level. But from July 1, when the Streak Zones scheme takes effect, drivers at the lowest incentive level will no longer receive this cash bonus while the amounts for the next two tiers will be cut to $30 and $50, respectively. The Streak Zones scheme, trialled in May 2024, allows drivers to pre-book two-hour time slots, mostly during peak periods, where they drive in high-demand areas. Drivers earn a cashback of 5 per cent on every completed trip. Grab and NPHVA said on June 25 that the association had provided feedback that some drivers rely on the bonuses to earn more money beyond the basic fares they receive for completed trips. Additionally, they noted there were worries that the revised bonus scheme might make it harder for some drivers to reach their target earnings. 'While Grab's intention was to help driver-partners reduce driving hours and reach their earning goals faster, Grab recognised that the planned changes could have been better implemented,' said Grab and NPHVA. Both parties said Grab remains committed to working closely with NPHVA to 'find effective solutions' that address drivers' concerns , and that it deeply appreciates the association's continued guidance in supporting Grab drivers . They added that NPHVA appreciates Grab's partnership and will continue engaging the ride-hailing operator to champion workers' interests. Grab had previously initiated a feedback session with its drivers on June 26 to discuss the changes in its bonus scheme. It told its drivers in the in-app message on June 25 that this session will proceed as scheduled. Drivers told The Straits Times that those who complete fewer than 500 trips each month will see a drop in their earnings, and that the 5 per cent cashback on completed trips in each Streak Zones slot is marginal. Esther Loi is a journalist at The Straits Times, where she covers transport issues. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Grab to pause changes to driver incentive scheme following backlash
[SINGAPORE] Ride-hailing service Grab will pause planned changes to its driver incentive scheme, following a backlash about the impact on drivers' earnings and income stability. The pause is to ensure that drivers' concerns 'are fully addressed before rolling out further changes', Grab and the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) told The Business Times in a statement on Wednesday (June 25). On Monday, the NPHVA had urged Grab to delay its revised incentive structure, which aims to reward consistent drivers but has lower overall payouts for drivers who complete 300 to 499 trips, among other changes. The NPHVA had noted that drivers completing that range of trips make up a significant portion of full-time drivers, and will be the most affected by the reduction of incentives. 'NPHVA had shared feedback that some drivers rely on these incentives to supplement the basic fares and there were worries that the revised structure might make it harder for some to reach their target earnings,' the association and Grab said in the Wednesday statement. While Grab's intention was to reduce drivers' hours and help them reach earning goals more quickly, the company 'recognised that the planned changes could have been better implemented'. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Grab said that it remains committed to working with the NPHVA to address drivers' concerns. The NPHVA likewise said that it will continue to engage Grab on workers' interests. Incentives under the revised scheme, called Grab Monthly Bonus, would have been broadly reduced. Top-tier Diamond drivers would still have been able to earn up to 21 per cent in bonuses, by completing 651 rides instead of 701. But drivers in the 300 to 499 ride range would have seen lower payouts: 4 per cent (Level 1), 7 per cent (Level 2), and 10 per cent (Level 3). They would also get lower cash bonuses: no payout for Level 1, S$30 for Level 2, and S$50 for Level 3, compared to the current maximum of S$100.
