The new requirement for all e-hailing drivers to have Public Service Vehicle licences is finally set to be enforced, with the latest deferment ending in a month’s time. It’s certainly been a matter of controversy, with e-hailing drivers complaining that the requirements were overly stringent, while some have alluded to the new rule being an attempt by Transport Minister Anthony Loke to allay the concerns of other parties, such as taxi companies.
In some better news for Grab, 27% of their driver-partners are now licensed, while around 15% are still waiting for their licences to be issued. This amounts up to a percentage of 42%, which is a reasonably healthy percentage if you consider that many that have dropped out were probably part-timers. On the other hand, 15% are halfway there, and 17% are waiting to go through the paper-based examinations.
This adds up to a rough figure of 3 out of 10 drivers having attained their PSV licences, while Grab says that 7/10 drivers have begun the process . And of course, 3/10 drivers have dropped out altogether. But Grab wants to improve this. Grab says that there are plans to work with authorities to “unblock the multiple capacity constraints” that have been strained by the rapid number of applications in such a short space of time. At the moment, it isn’t clear yet as to the moves that Grab are planning, however.