While you all bai nian on first day of new year, some people need work hor!
Yesterday on CNY eve our Prime Minister and NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng go visit our bus captains and public transport workers. But got people more tok kong one leh.
Today first day new year, still got people working leh! This Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Advisor to the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association hor, first day people go visit their relatives, she go visit the working staff at Changi Airport Terminal 3. Sibeh dedicated siah.
Together with her was Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health; Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Transport as well as Sustainability and the Environment and the management representatives from Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
They went airport in early morning to give gift bags to the staff and also to engage with them!
Showing appreciation for our airport workers
With life in Singapore slowly returning to normal after COVID, our international visitor arrivals to Singapore are expected to hit 12 to 14 million this year (sibeh chor sia I hear also want to faint). So they are expecting the demand for Point-to-Point transport services to increase. For example, our P2P drivers have been making trips to and from airport to serve visitors. The other day when I came back from KL, I wanted to hail a cab, but end up take the BUS because too many people sia!
During the festive period also need to work, so NTUC keep stressing the importance of these workers because they have been our unsung heroes since COVID 19 times leh. Now COVID over, still need to work so hard. The NTA and NPHVA tell us that the health and wellness of our drivers very important so, they have been working on the following with NTUC Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit (UFSE) and Health Promotion Board:
- Hold health workshops on ergonomics and self-care
- Organise health screening and health coaching sessions for our drivers,
- Encouraging them to take charge of their health by adopting healthier habits such as having balanced meals
- Carving out time for exercise
- Taking regular breaks to rest in their course of work
- Participating in the regular health screenings conducted for them.
“It has been a tough two over years for our P2P driving community – braving the dry ridership spells that the pandemic brought and marching on despite low or zero earnings at stretches of time in the darkest moments. Our taxi and private hire vehicle drivers have been putting in longer working hours to cater to the transportation needs of the community and more recently, the increase in international visitors. Today, we thank them for their tenacity and resilience, and for sacrificing their family time to ferry us from point to point during this festive period. As we adjust to a new normal, NTA and NPHVA will continue to ensure that our drivers’ interests are taken care, and they receive the support they need. We encourage all taxi drivers and private hire vehicle drivers to sign up as members with our associations if they have not done so, so that they can be part of our bigger voice for P2P drivers.” – Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Advisor to the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association
Steady lah, thanks to airport staff and P2P drivers for holding the fort! Don’t forget to xin nian kuai le with your loved ones k.
