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SINGAPORE: Taxi drivers and private rental car drivers will receive additional support of S $ 133 million from the government, in a move aimed at moderating the impact of the termination of a self-employed assistance scheme, the Transport Authority said. Land. (LTA) on Wednesday (December 16).
The additional support will come under a new COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund, in addition to the S $ 55 million already committed to the existing Special Relief Fund, LTA said in a press release.
Under the COVID-19 Driver Assistance Fund, drivers will receive S $ 600 per vehicle per month between January and March, and S $ 450 between April and June.
The new scheme will replace the existing Special Assistance Fund, which started in February to help active taxi and private vehicle drivers defray costs. Drivers received monthly payments of S $ 300 per vehicle per month under that scheme.
(Image: Land Transportation Authority)
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Approximately 52,000 drivers who are currently eligible for the Special Assistance Fund will automatically move to the COVID-19 Driver Assistance Fund starting in January.
The new fund will be introduced when the Self Employed Income Relief Plan, introduced as part of the Resilience Budget in March, ends. Under the scheme, eligible drivers would have received S $ 3,000 each in May, July and October.
Recipients of the COVID-19 Driver Assistance Fund will not be eligible for the new COVID-19 Recovery Grant announced Wednesday by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
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Despite the improvement in the COVID-19 situation in Singapore, the number of passengers in taxis and private rental cars remains lower than pre-COVID-19 levels, as tourism activities remain “muted” and many Employees continue to work from home, LTA said Wednesday.
“COVID-19 has also changed travel patterns, with shorter taxi and PHC (private rental car) trips resulting in lower rates per trip,” added LTA.
“LTA has been monitoring the situation closely, in particular the ongoing concerns among taxi drivers and PHC drivers about their income and livelihoods as we approach 2021, and has regularly engaged drivers, operators, the National Association of Taxis and the National Association of Private Rental Vehicles. “
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