Law requires Uber and Grab drivers to sit for vocational licence

Drivers who work for transport operators like Uber and Grab are not going to have things easy. The recent amendments to the Road Traffic Act (RTA), which were passed in Parliament on 7 February stipulate that every private-hire driver is required to obtain a vocational licence before he or she can pick passengers up.  The law also states that operators can be fined up to $10,000 if they fail to ensure that their drivers are licensed, and suspended for up to one month if their drivers flout the rules three or more times in a year.  Also, private-hire drivers will have to display a decal that clearly identifies their vehicle as a private-hire vehicle, and have their vehicles registered with the Land Transport Authority (LTA). This requirement will kick in by the middle of this year.  The slew of measures were first made known to the public at the Ministry of Transport’s (MOT) Committee of Supply debate that was held in April last year. Then, Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng announced that that private-hire car drivers will need to apply for a Private Hire Car Vocational Licence (PDVL). To obtain the PDVL, the applicant must hold at least two years of driving experience and go through a 10-hour course. Those who are Singapore citizens must be registered owners of a chauffeured-services company, or employed by a limousine company. After obtaining the PDVL, the drivers will be subject to a demerit point system, much like how taxi drivers are regulated. In addressing the Parliament on the safety of passengers and other road-users, Mr Ng said: “Our regulations are not overly onerous. Service operators like Uber and Grab will agree that these are necessary for the interest of commuters."