Bring in foreign cabbies
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An example , 5pm to 8pm .... peak hour surcharge extra $2 ..... tell me , who has got massive problem getting a cab ?
Please admit , with that extra $2 surcharge , many would have Thank God they doesn't need to pay $4 to call for a cab ....
This $2 surcharge cut a slice of commuters successfully to other form of public transport ...
Trust me people , ComfortDelgro will increase the peak hour charge $2 until 11pm ..... currently from 5-8pm , next will be 5pm til 11pm !
Take my word , mark this down !
Those timing when there's a demand for taxis , the peak hour surcharge will apply .
Until that time , please tell me , if foreigners still needed to drive a Singapore taxis ? -
I thought SMRT Taxis having the worst driver shortage and the most expensive fares?
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IN THE evening of the day before my Registry of Marriages wedding ceremony on June 2, I booked a taxi to pick up our solemniser and take her to the service. Confirmation was made and the taxi number given. We were totally unprepared, therefore, when the taxi failed to turn up at the appointed and booked time.
Frantic phone calls were then exchanged between the solemniser, us and the taxi service to make alternative arrangements as well as find out what had happened and why the taxi did not turn up. By then, our solemniser was very anxious and frustrated and quite rightly furious at not being picked up on time.
This frustration and anxiety was felt most keenly by my bride, who while ironing out last minute details, was also trying to arrange alternative transport for the solemniser. All this caused her mood to deteriorate rapidly. Imagine having everything organised and then watching as it threatened to fall apart at the seams because of a taxi.
Our solemniser even went out to the main road to flag down a passing taxi. In the end, the alternative taxi we arranged picked her up. All this caused our ceremony to be delayed longer and longer.
Luckily, at the Furama Riverfront Hotel, our event manager Jason Ang and staff were by now aware of what had happened. They reassured us everything would turn out just fine and not to worry. They took great pains to ensure the guests were comfortable and had drinks and nibbles.
The solemniser turned up and we proceeded with the ceremony, but the stress caused by this had disastrous consequences. My bride and I had no time to enjoy what was supposed to be our big day and it turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons. It is hard to enjoy something this important when you are still getting over the close brush with disaster you have just had.
Only through prompt action by our friends and excellent service from Mr Ang and the staff at Furama Riverfront Hotel did our day proceed at all, and we gratefully acknowledge their special efforts for us.
So, all brides and grooms- to-be, ensure you not only book your taxi and confirm it, but also check again a couple of hours before it is due to ensure it will actually turn up.
John Tunstall
Queensland, Australia
(20 June, Straits Times)
The groundswell of discontent is rising....bring in foreign cabbies. Singaporean drivers are too lazy and do not provide a good service. Let the foreigners drive cabs and force these lazy uncles to work harder. -
Nothing is more accurate than the public perceptions of our taxi services.
If we don't do something to liberalise the driver problem and let the Singaporean taxi drivers hold us ransom the people can cry horse and the situations will never be improved. Perild.
Drastic actions must be taken to solve the root problems of our lousy taxi system under the few players. How?
Abolish phone booking. Abolish surcharges and have one unifed rate. Allow foreign workers to drive cabs I bet the service will improve to standards like Hong Kong.
Posted by: steamroller at Wed Jun 20 11:04:25 SGT 2007 -
Taxi companies have been campaigning for years to be allowed to bring in foreign cabbies. It's the government who has been trying to protect the livelihood of our cab drivers, probably knowing that they are inefficient and cannot compete.
Are taxi drivers grateful to the government? They are the ones who always rant against the government and complain to every passenger the faults of the leadership. Time for the government to wake up and force these lot to compete like everyone else.
If others can do the job better than you for lower pay, either you buck up or you lose your job! Time for the government to realize that protecting these lazy uncles does not get them more votes. On the contrary it stokes the anger of most Singaporeans each time cab fare rises and mars the image of Singapore as a tourist destination when people cannot find cabs.
Bring in foreign cabbies! -
Taxi companies ???? Tell that to our Union ........Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Taxi companies have been campaigning for years to be allowed to bring in foreign cabbies. It's the government who has been trying to protect the livelihood of our cab drivers, probably knowing that they are inefficient and cannot compete.
Are taxi drivers grateful to the government? They are the ones who always rant against the government and complain to every passenger the faults of the leadership. Time for the government to wake up and force these lot to compete like everyone else.
If others can do the job better than you for lower pay, either you buck up or you lose your job! Time for the government to realize that protecting these lazy uncles does not get them more votes. On the contrary it stokes the anger of most Singaporeans each time cab fare rises and mars the image of Singapore as a tourist destination when people cannot find cabs.
Bring in foreign cabbies!
or tell that to Ng Eng Hen ..... -
Oh yeah , hahahaha dream on ....... want foreign drivers ? Go New York Manhatten ......... u'll find lots of mexican drivers who dunno where's Manhatten City Centre , hahahahaha.....Originally posted by oxford mushroom:IN THE evening of the day before my Registry of Marriages wedding ceremony on June 2, I booked a taxi to pick up our solemniser and take her to the service. Confirmation was made and the taxi number given. We were totally unprepared, therefore, when the taxi failed to turn up at the appointed and booked time.
Frantic phone calls were then exchanged between the solemniser, us and the taxi service to make alternative arrangements as well as find out what had happened and why the taxi did not turn up. By then, our solemniser was very anxious and frustrated and quite rightly furious at not being picked up on time.
This frustration and anxiety was felt most keenly by my bride, who while ironing out last minute details, was also trying to arrange alternative transport for the solemniser. All this caused her mood to deteriorate rapidly. Imagine having everything organised and then watching as it threatened to fall apart at the seams because of a taxi.
Our solemniser even went out to the main road to flag down a passing taxi. In the end, the alternative taxi we arranged picked her up. All this caused our ceremony to be delayed longer and longer.
Luckily, at the Furama Riverfront Hotel, our event manager Jason Ang and staff were by now aware of what had happened. They reassured us everything would turn out just fine and not to worry. They took great pains to ensure the guests were comfortable and had drinks and nibbles.
The solemniser turned up and we proceeded with the ceremony, but the stress caused by this had disastrous consequences. My bride and I had no time to enjoy what was supposed to be our big day and it turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons. It is hard to enjoy something this important when you are still getting over the close brush with disaster you have just had.
Only through prompt action by our friends and excellent service from Mr Ang and the staff at Furama Riverfront Hotel did our day proceed at all, and we gratefully acknowledge their special efforts for us.
So, all brides and grooms- to-be, ensure you not only book your taxi and confirm it, but also check again a couple of hours before it is due to ensure it will actually turn up.
John Tunstall
Queensland, Australia
(20 June, Straits Times)
The groundswell of discontent is rising....bring in foreign cabbies. Singaporean drivers are too lazy and do not provide a good service. Let the foreigners drive cabs and force these lazy uncles to work harder.
U know why USA unemployment rate so high ?
U know why Australia has git such high unemploymenyt rate ?
Because their country simply doesn not have a reserve jobs vacancies available for their citizen in time to come when they losses their jobs ....
Ng Eng Hen has been trying very hard to find jobs for those 40+ citizens who had been retrenched , taking away their last resources for unemloyment don't benefits Singapore economy at all ..... -
Let me emphasis ..... if u want to live in a 1st Class Transport System , u must be prepare to pay a First Class Flat down .....
U don't invite elephant when u throw peanuts .... u'll get monkeys .
Foreign cabbies ? Can u assure they are more superior in their services ? I have doubts , a culture can never change , u cannot change a culture from service and working culture rfom country like India and Bangledesh .
What is first class fare ? definitely not flat down of $2.50 , more like $6.50 more realistic .....
U guys must wait .... year end .... peak hour surcharge extend from 5pm til 11pm , then we summed up the situation ......
Now too early to sad ......
$2.50 pus $2.00 peak hour , can concluded world class fare .... more like it ! -
True on worst drivers shortage ..... not true most expensive fare .....Originally posted by iveco:I thought SMRT Taxis having the worst driver shortage and the most expensive fares? -
And foreign drivers are angels who won't resort to the same disappearing tactics? I doubt it.
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Keep on dreaming ......
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How many have taxi vocational licence in Singapore?
How many taxis (vehicles) are there in Singapore?
The number of taxis have to be correspondingly increased with that of the number of vocational licence holders. Therefore the quota of vehicles allowed on Singapore roads have to be adjusted for more taxis.
We can't have Singaporean and FT taxi drivers competing for 20,000 taxis. -
Dun laugh too loud...elections are over. If more tourists and Singaporeans continue to exert pressure on the government they will relent.
Singaporean taxi drivers dun vote for the government anyway...we do! If they want our votes, who do you think they would listen to?
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And do you know the real reason why SG cabbies don't vote for the ruling party?Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Dun laugh too loud...elections are over. If more tourists and Singaporeans continue to exert pressure on the government they will relent.
Singaporean taxi drivers dun vote for the government anyway...we do! If they want our votes, who do you think they would listen to?
Also, stop smirking. This ain't no laughing matter.
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Based on what Oxford Mushroom is saying, we should bring in the entire lot of foreign management to replace those at Temasek Holding and make them WAKE UP THEIR IDEA!
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Still don't understand what's the hoo-haa for taxi service just because minority in the city can't get a cab from between 9 to 11 pm .
U heard people complain about not getting a cab at Airport ? In fact taxi drivers can Q at airport for 15 minutes wait to get a customer ?
Why ? Airport got $3 surcharge ma .... Money can push for better efficient service .
In the City , flag-down only $2.50 after 8pm for weekdays , compared to booking +$4.00 , which would u do if u're a cabby ?
Of course +$4.00 , right people ?
Money can push taxi service better !
Those people have to blame themself for being so pampered .... why ? Cannot take MRT ? Take Bus ? Must take taxi ?
Some people say taxi drivers lazy ? Oh yes , so lazy when u book-a-cab , they'll be there in 5 minutes !
So lazy that by midnight , most already got a cab home !
Singaporean damn kiasun also la ..... scared to pay midnight charge , must all rush together to take taxis home to avoid paying midnight charge .
Hahahahah , right or not people ?
Nevermind la ..... let them nagged , foreigner-cabby ? Dream dream dream ...
Can la ..... foreigners are meant to wash my taxis , for $3.00 . -
Ya la ya la , u pink ic , we not pink la , blue ic la ..... u're right la ..... hahahahah ....Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Dun laugh too loud...elections are over. If more tourists and Singaporeans continue to exert pressure on the government they will relent.
Singaporean taxi drivers dun vote for the government anyway...we do! If they want our votes, who do you think they would listen to?
Ya la Ya la ..... we don't vote la , cos my place walkover ma ..... hahahahaha
wahahahaha ... hilarious guy , and attitude .
I remember 2006 similiar topic about foreign cabbies , now 2007 liao ..... can't believe such dreams still occurs .... soon becoming nightmare . -
Foreign cabbies will make the situation worse.
Short-term answer for a major problem that lies with the PTC and the taxi firms, not the drivers. -
No...bring in foreign cabbies unless you want to pay higher taxi fares. Foreign competition will keep fares low and there will be more cabs around..
The government should stop protecting local cabbies...they aren't grateful anyway. -
Are you talking about introducing a foreign player to set up a taxi company that hires foreigners, OM?
If not, what makes you so certain that taxi companies will reduce their fares when they bring in cheaper drivers? They may as well sustain the rates and enjoy the bigger profit margins. -
True, but at the very least they will not need to raise fares. Someone has suggested putting up the starting fare to $4 (the elderly only pay $4 to see a doctor at the polyclinic in comparison). But I think there is a good chance fares will drop if we flood the market with cabbies.Originally posted by Kuali Baba:Are you talking about introducing a foreign player to set up a taxi company that hires foreigners, OM?
If not, what makes you so certain that taxi companies will reduce their fares when they bring in cheaper drivers? They may as well sustain the rates and enjoy the bigger profit margins.
Bring in foreign cabbies and relieve the shortage of cabs. It is Singaporeans who complain about the difficulty of getting cabs that bring up the fares...cos' if the demand outstrips supply, you have to raise fares to entice cabbies to work harder. Bring in foreigners and there will be a glut of cabs around. If supply outstrips demand, they will have to lower the fares to attract MRT and bus passengers to use taxis. -
What for go to all this trouble?Originally posted by oxford mushroom:True, but at the very least they will not need to raise fares. Someone has suggested putting up the starting fare to $4 (the elderly only pay $4 to see a doctor at the polyclinic in comparison). But I think there is a good chance fares will drop if we flood the market with cabbies.
Bring in foreign cabbies and relieve the shortage of cabs. It is Singaporeans who complain about the difficulty of getting cabs that bring up the fares...cos' if the demand outstrips supply, you have to raise fares to entice cabbies to work harder. Bring in foreigners and there will be a glut of cabs around. If supply outstrips demand, they will have to lower the fares to attract MRT and bus passengers to use taxis.
Start with the taxi companies and regulate them properly and forcefully.
Do away with the automated booking allocation system and ensure that a booking quota be introduced per taxi for peak hours, to prevent taxis from accumulating bookings and ensuring that there are more taxis for flag-down trips. Cut the night rental fees by 40-50% as well, to ensure that taxi drivers are not penalised and therefore need to accumulate booking fees to level out.
(Can someone clarify the proportion of the booking fee that goes to the driver?)
Secondly, raise the booking fee to $6 to ensure that people do not book on a whim and fancy. That should sieve out those who book out of convenience and those who can afford. The law of averages should straighten things out.
Instead of simply playing the salary game which will not enhance the profession, sort out the management first. Leave the workers alone. Bringing in a foreign player will not solve anything. What makes you think they won't play the same game? It is puerile and wishful thinking that they will play a wage game if there is no regulatory action. -
This is a post in the Straits Times and it explains the problem we have: it's not just a management issue...it's just that cabbies are not willing to work hard enough:
"The only BOLD & Holistic solution is to remove all surcharges, including booking charges. The ONLY reason why most cabbies CAN afford to play hide and seek is because there are not hungry at all; hunger will drive a person to make a living no matter the hardship. In other words, when you think you have enough, then you can afford to wait and choose your passenger, and complain about this-and-that. A cabby who has to bring food to the table for his/her family and kids, and is not earning enough for the day, will grab any passenger he/she comes across.
Posted by: LauSikKong at Mon Jun 25 12:23:48 SGT 2007"
Flood the market with foreign cabbies and we will see a great improvement. This government must stop protecting local cabbies...protectionism yields inefficiency and raises costs. -
They're not hungry?Originally posted by oxford mushroom:This is a post in the Straits Times and it explains the problem we have: it's not just a management issue...it's just that cabbies are not willing to work hard enough:
"The only BOLD & Holistic solution is to remove all surcharges, including booking charges. The ONLY reason why most cabbies CAN afford to play hide and seek is because there are not hungry at all; hunger will drive a person to make a living no matter the hardship. In other words, when you think you have enough, then you can afford to wait and choose your passenger, and complain about this-and-that. A cabby who has to bring food to the table for his/her family and kids, and is not earning enough for the day, will grab any passenger he/she comes across.
Posted by: LauSikKong at Mon Jun 25 12:23:48 SGT 2007"
Flood the market with foreign cabbies and we will see a great improvement. This government must stop protecting local cabbies...protectionism yields inefficiency and raises costs.
Have these people actually talked to the cabbies, and taken enough cabs to understand their issues?
All talking through their ass, when the pressing issue at the moment raised by commuters and taxi drivers themselves is that they have to kick people out of a cab the minute the system allocates them a booking, and they are penalised if they reject too many bookings.
If this is not management and policy shortcoming, then what is? Any lack of progress on their side will not make things improve even if foreign companies come into the market. Because the industry practice will still remain.
Do spend time talking to the cabbies when you are in one, you will find out more than specious crap in the ST forum. One letter is nothing. -
What a joke! Go read the forum page. The problem is not the booking system. There is no rule that requires a cabbie to throw a passenger out to accept a booking when his taxi is occupied. Check your information and not just rely on old wives' tales.Originally posted by LazerLordz:They're not hungry?
Have these people actually talked to the cabbies, and taken enough cabs to understand their issues?
All talking through their ass, when the pressing issue at the moment raised by commuters and taxi drivers themselves is that they have to kick people out of a cab the minute the system allocates them a booking, and they are penalised if they reject too many bookings.
If this is not management and policy shortcoming, then what is? Any lack of progress on their side will not make things improve even if foreign companies come into the market. Because the industry practice will still remain.
Do spend time talking to the cabbies when you are in one, you will find out more than specious crap in the ST forum. One letter is nothing.
Local cab drivers are just not hungry enough to work harder. People have some experience with gardening will know that many plants do not flower if you water them too well and give too much fertilizers. They will grow leaves but not flowers. You have to starve them a little..it's the stress that makes them flower. It's the same with local cab drivers...you've got to starve them a little.
Flood the market with foreign cab drivers. If this lot will not work harder for the current fare, there are plenty of bangladeshi, indian and chinese workers who would!