SINGAPORE PHV DRIVERS: HOW MUCH MORE ARE WE EXPECTED TO TAKE?

We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for a fair system.

Every day, thousands of private-hire vehicle drivers in Singapore get behind the wheel and go to work.

We pay for our vehicles.

We pay for fuel.

We pay ERP.

We pay insurance, road tax, servicing and repairs.

We absorb depreciation.

We carry the financial risk.

And many of us work long hours just to make a sustainable living.

But while our costs continue to rise, the rules governing our income and opportunities are becoming increasingly difficult to understand.

Commission structures change. Fees and deductions change. Booking access can be unclear. Service-category requirements can change.

And when those rules change, the driver's bills don't change with them.

The loan still has to be paid.

The rental still has to be paid.

The insurance still has to be paid.

The fuel still has to be paid.

But our earning opportunities can change overnight.

That is why we are asking LTA and NPHVA to listen.

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THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT DRIVERS.

It is also about passengers.

When a passenger chooses a higher-priced service, they should know exactly what they are paying for — and receive the level of service represented by that category.

When a driver invests substantially more in a premium vehicle, that investment should have meaningful value.

And when a platform changes rules that directly affect thousands of livelihoods, drivers should have transparency about what is changing, why it is changing and how it affects them.

That is basic fairness.

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WHERE DOES YOUR FARE ACTUALLY GO?

Drivers need to be able to understand the economics of every trip.

If a passenger pays $X, a driver should be able to clearly see:

Passenger pays → Platform deducts → Driver receives.

Commission percentages, platform fees and other deductions should be transparent.

Drivers should not have to work out their actual earnings after navigating multiple deductions and changes to payment structures.

We are not asking platforms to guarantee our income.

We are asking for transparency about how our income is calculated.

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WHO GETS ACCESS TO THE BEST BOOKINGS?

Advance bookings.

Higher-value bookings.

Executive bookings.

Limo bookings.

These opportunities can make a significant difference to a driver's income.

Where access is invitation-only or otherwise restricted, qualified drivers deserve to know:

What are the criteria?

How do I qualify?

Why was someone else selected?

How can I apply?

Can I be assessed fairly?

If drivers are expected to meet higher standards and make higher investments, there should be a clear and fair pathway to the opportunities associated with those standards.

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DRIVERS DESERVE FAIR AND ACCURATE RATINGS

A driver's rating can have a real impact on their livelihood.

A single unfair or retaliatory rating can affect a driver's overall score, reputation and potentially their access to opportunities — yet drivers may have little visibility into why a rating was given and limited ability to challenge ratings that are clearly unreasonable or unrelated to the service provided.

Passengers should absolutely have the right to provide honest feedback.

But drivers should also have basic protection against ratings that are abusive, retaliatory, discriminatory, malicious or unrelated to the driver's performance.

A driver should not be penalised because:

- A passenger was unhappy about the fare or route determined by the platform;

- The driver could not fulfil a request that violated platform rules;

- A passenger was unhappy about waiting time or pick-up restrictions outside the driver's control;

- A passenger expected something that was not part of the booked service; or

- A passenger deliberately leaves a poor rating in retaliation for the driver enforcing reasonable safety or platform requirements.

We therefore call for a fair and transparent driver-rating system, including:

• Clear criteria explaining what ratings are intended to measure.

• Protection against retaliatory or abusive ratings.

• A meaningful process for drivers to dispute clearly unfair ratings.

• Removal or exclusion of ratings that are demonstrably unrelated to the driver's performance.

• Greater transparency about how ratings affect a driver's eligibility, booking access and opportunities.

Passengers deserve the right to rate drivers.

Drivers deserve the right to be rated fairly.

A rating should reflect the driver's service — not the passenger's frustration with something outside the driver's control.

Fairness must work both ways.

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WE ARE CALLING FOR CHANGE.

We call on LTA and NPHVA to engage with Grab and other PHV platforms to address the following:

1. Transparent commissions and deductions
Drivers should clearly know the actual commission, fees and deductions applied to every trip.

2. Meaningful differences between categories
If passengers pay more, they should receive a genuinely distinguishable level of service.

3. Fair access to higher-value opportunities
Executive, Advance and Limo bookings should have clear qualification and application criteria.

4. Protection of driver investments
Drivers who make substantially higher investments in premium vehicles should have a fair opportunity to benefit from that investment.

5. Passenger transparency
Passengers should know what level of service they are paying for and receive that level of service.

6. Fair and transparent driver ratings
Drivers should be protected from demonstrably unfair, retaliatory or abusive ratings and have a meaningful process to dispute ratings that do not fairly reflect their service.

7. Meaningful driver consultation
Major changes affecting driver earnings, vehicle eligibility, booking access and rating systems should involve meaningful engagement with the drivers whose livelihoods are affected.

8. Independent review
There should be an appropriate mechanism to review significant concerns regarding platform practices and their economic impact on PHV drivers.

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THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON GRAB.

Grab and other platforms are businesses and are entitled to make legitimate commercial decisions.

We are not asking for guaranteed income.

We are not asking for protection from competition.

We are not asking for special privileges.

We are asking for clear rules.

We are asking for meaningful standards.

We are asking for transparency.

We are asking for fair opportunities.

And we are asking for drivers to have a voice.

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BECAUSE BEHIND EVERY DRIVER IS A PERSON.

A PHV vehicle is not just a car.

For many drivers, it is their workplace, their investment and the means by which they support their families.

Behind every steering wheel is someone paying bills, supporting children, servicing loans and trying to build a stable life.

Our livelihoods are not just numbers on a screen.

We should not have to keep working longer and longer simply because the economics of the industry are becoming harder to understand and sustain.

Singapore deserves a PHV industry where:

Drivers can earn sustainably.

Passengers know what they are paying for.

Service categories have real meaning.

And major changes are made transparently.

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NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP.

If you are a PHV driver — sign this petition.

If you are a PHV passenger — sign this petition.

If you have a friend or family member who drives — sign this petition.

If you believe that people whose livelihoods depend on a platform deserve transparency and a voice — sign this petition.

You don't have to hate Grab.

You don't even have to be a driver.

You simply have to believe that fairness matters.

One driver speaking alone can be ignored.

One passenger speaking alone can be ignored.

But thousands of drivers and passengers standing together cannot be so easily ignored.

SIGN THIS PETITION.

Then share it with one more person.

Share it with a driver.

Share it with a passenger.

Share it with your friends and family.

Because change does not happen when everyone stays silent.

✊ SIGN.

📢 SHARE.

🤝 STAND TOGETHER.

FAIRNESS.

TRANSPARENCY.

ACCOUNTABILITY.

We are the people keeping Singapore moving.

It's time our voices were heard.