TAXI DRIVERS (Socio-economic Profile)

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam asked the Minister for Communications and Information, Second Minister for Defence and Second Minister for National Development what is the socio-economic profile (salary, educational status, age, type of dwelling occupied, marital status and number of children) of taxi drivers and whether there is a noticeable change of the profile in recent years.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: ROV does not collate the socio-economic profile of the more than 34,000 taxi drivers on its records.

Their average age as at 1st January 1985 is 43.4 years.

ROV surveys show that the average monthly gross fare collections of single-shift taxis for the period January 1984 to February 1985 is $2,439.

It is not possible to calculate the nett salary of drivers because the cost of operating a taxi varies from driver to driver depending on the age of the taxi, the level of maintenance, etc. ROV estimates that their nett monthly salary is between $1,000-$1,200.