Take-up Rate of Point-to-Point Support Package by Private Hire Car Operators
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the participation of private hire car (PHC) operators in the Point-to-Point Support Package (PPSP) and the total amounts disbursed to drivers. Mr Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the number of participating operators, the funds distributed per operator, and the reasons for any non-participation in the scheme. Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that Grab, Gojek, and Ryde initially contributed over $20 million but ceased matching government funds as the package was designed as a government-led initiative. He clarified that the $300 million PPSP was a government initiative, with operators primarily assisting in the disbursement of Special Relief Fund (SRF) payouts. By September 2020, the government disbursed $45 million through Grab, $8 million through Gojek, and $60,000 through Ryde to support drivers.
Transcript
73 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport (a) how many private hire car operators have participated in the Point-to-Point Support Package (PPSP); (b) what are the amounts disbursed to each of these private hire car operators through the PPSP; and (c) whether any reasons are offered by private hire car operators who decide not to participate in the PPSP.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Point-to-Point Support Package was launched in February this year to help drivers tide over difficult times. In total, the three tranches of the package amounted to more than $300 million. Although it was designed as a Government assistance package for drivers, the taxi and Private Hire Car (PHC) operators have been working with the Government and contributed to the Support Package.
For the first tranche of the Support Package between March and May 2020, three operators – Grab, Gojek and Ryde – contributed more than $20 million in total to match the Government's assistance for drivers through commission rebates. However, the PHC operators have stopped matching the Government’s assistance in subsequent tranches. The Ministry of Transport do not fault them, because the Support Package was designed as a Government assistance package to start with, and we appreciate their contribution. Instead, the operators have been helping the Government to disburse Special Relief Fund (SRF) payouts to their drivers. As of 30 September, the Government has disbursed about $45 million in SRF payouts to drivers through Grab, $8 million through Gojek and about $60,000 through Ryde.