Last week i got in to a taxi from office to home after hard days work. The following are the shocking facts about the best taxi drivers in the world ( i don mean the driving talent.. i meant the attitude and the system itself)
- The earning per day of an average taxi driver is just around 60$ provided if they drive atleast 11 hours a day.
- The average earning of the taxi driver in Singapore is around 2000$ which is below par for the cost of living here in Singapore. That too they need to work atleast 6 days a week forgeting almost 100% of their social life.
I know there are other hard working skilled workers who earn even lesser but my point is, in most of the countries the taxi/auto drivers are at their best in terms of earning against the hardwork which means pain to public. Contrastingly, the public here appreciate the Taxi service but the poor Drivers dont get much of the benefit from the govt. they deserve. The Tax and other statuatory payments are a overload for them and they are worried as most of the public thinks they earn bloody lots of money. Few of the quotes i heard from the drivers are
'People dont mind spending 10$ for a flipping coffee but mourn a lot about travelling for the same amount comfortably in an Airconditioned Taxi with the quality of service'
'I feel like am living a machine life driving all the time i am awake and still getting peanuts'
'I would have prefered to be in China selling Tea rather driving Taxi in Singapore where no one bothers about our welfare'
Singapore should hold the credit undoubtedly for emphasising such a law were at any point of time a Taxi driver should never ask for even a cent on top of the meter charge. No taxi driver can say 'No' for any destination in Singapore asked by public unless they are changing shifts. On top of this, the Service from heart is matchless. But Show some Sympathy for this Nation's Pride.
I dont know what i wanna achieve writing this here but I just felt they deserve more than what they are getting in terms of recognition and reward. I just need some space to say 'I Agree'.
5 comments:
Quite True ... The same can be said about auto / taxi drivers in Mumbai also ... Most of the time they come wherever you ask them to ... Two exceptions (1) Shift changing time, (2) When the haul is too short. Very simple guys, not greedy, charge you by the meter (accurate to the last digit), return change and nice people to commute with (when you are in a mood for small talk ;-D)
Only possible crib (if I do have to highlight one): they chewing paan and spitting on the road.
No Comments !!!
Aravindh, I never knew these guys get paid so less. I completely agree with you - "Good & Sincere people deserve more in life".
JR - You are typing a comment to say "No Comments"...haha.
Hmm.. you seem to be researching on taxi/auto drivers. Avan avan microbiology, Mallika Sherawat nu research panraan.. Nee taxi drivers la research panra.. Good for you :p
Taxi drivers too fall under the service sector, as do the bar tenders, and waiters. So, leaving the taxi drivers a small tip would not only motivate them, but also improve their outlook as a whole. There is no point in cribbing about the system, just the willingness to go the extra mile, and to bring about the change would suffice. So, leaving a $2 tip would suffice, and would create a snowball effect in improving the conditions, both for the taxi drivers, as well as the passengers in the long run. My 2 cents..
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