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SINGAPORE – Taxi driver Peter Quek used to make 150 trips a week before the pandemic hit.
That has been reduced by a third to just over 100 now.
The 44-year-old man’s monthly net household income was cut in half, from $ 3,000 to $ 1,500.
Fortunately, she qualified for the Freelance Income Relief Program launched in March, which sheds $ 1,000 per month for nine months.
Explaining why his income has been cut in half even though the number of trips has not, the 5-and-a-half-year-old taxi driver, who drives 60 hours a week, said: “Pandemic or not, whatever you earn in the first hours of driving is intended to cover operating costs.
“It’s only after about seven hours that I recover from the day and then start to earn my income, so the drop in revenue is disproportionate to the decrease in passengers.”
Quek, who keeps track of his expenses and profits using Excel spreadsheets, said his daily operating costs amount to about $ 180, after rent relief from the taxi operator and the government.
“This includes ‘hidden costs’ that others might not consider, such as Medisave contributions and income tax deductions,” said the single father of two daughters ages 14 and 16. His parents live with him.
“It is possible that many drivers do not take them into account, but as freelancers it is important that we know all the costs, because we are going to assume them.
Mr. Quek feels that the Covid-19 pandemic has strengthened his call for the taxi rental system to be reviewed.
In September, he wrote to the Ministry of Transport and ComfortDelGro proposing that instead of paying a flat daily rate, taxi drivers should be charged a lower rent, with additional charges calculated based on the time they use the vehicle.
Mr. Quek said that his suggestion gives taxi drivers more autonomy and encourages them to take more responsibility in planning their schedules.
“Instead of working hard for hours just to make up for the daily rent, a pay-as-you-go system will allow us to break even earlier in the day and enjoy a better work-life balance,” he said, adding that ” being freed from the current mental and physical cost of renting “will be a great relief.
Mr. Quek believes that his proposal suits various types of taxi drivers, regardless of why and how long they drive.
“Not all drivers have been affected by the pandemic equally, because not all of us drive full time.
“Some are retirees who don’t need the income as much and can afford to drive less. Such a system will allow them to do so,” he said.
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