An autonomous-vehicle future must work for drivers too

THE arrival of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Singapore is no longer a distant possibility.

For taxi and private-hire vehicle (PHV) drivers who have spent years building their livelihoods on the road, recent developments have understandably caused anxiety.

When drivers hear that driverless ride-hailing services are coming, the first thought that comes to mind is unlikely to be what new jobs AVs might create. Instead, they might ask: What will happen to my job? Will I still be able to earn a decent living?

As AVs are progressively introduced, human drivers will still be needed. But saying this alone is not enough. Drivers’ earnings, trip opportunities and livelihoods need close attention.

The government has said that AV deployment will not run ahead of our ability to retrain and support affected drivers.

From the labour movement’s perspective, this is an important commitment. The transition must be paced and managed carefully, with the impact on workers closely monitored.

Technology should improve our transport system without leaving the workers who built and sustain it behind.

Protecting livelihoods through the transition

AVs have the potential to improve safety and productivity, and help Singapore to meet growing transport needs. But the benefits of technology cannot be considered separately from its impact on workers.

Taxi and PHV drivers are sensitive to changes in the supply of vehicles and trips. Many are self-employed and depend on daily earnings to support their families.

Even before jobs disappear, changes in trip allocation, fares or utilisation can affect livelihoods.

Policymakers must therefore look beyond jobs lost or created, and ensure that remaining drivers have sufficient opportunities to earn sustainable incomes as AVs change the economics of driving.

The labour movement, together with the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association, will continue to engage drivers and work with the government and operators on these concerns.

Meaningful and valued human-driving

The human element continues to matter in every journey.

Passengers may need assistance, reassurance, judgment or care that an experienced driver can provide. The job involves much more than steering a vehicle from one point to another.

We should identify where human drivers provide distinctive value.

Technology can also make human drivers better at their jobs. Artificial intelligence can support safer driving, navigation, scheduling and passenger service.

Drivers who want to remain in the industry should have the opportunity to use these tools to become more productive and provide better services.

Real options, not predetermined pathways

Not every driver will want to make the same transition. Options should be made available to those who wish to explore other opportunities.

Some are seeking a new career, while others rely on the flexibility that driving offers to manage caregiving, health needs or other commitments.

Drivers who want to move into new roles need credible pathways from Job A to Job B.

Bus captains, taxi drivers and PHV drivers bring passenger care, safety judgment, route knowledge and operational experience to their work. Understanding these capabilities allows us to identify which skills can transfer and what additional skills are genuinely required.

From a worker’s perspective, the question is much simpler: Where is the actual job, and can I realistically get it?

Training must therefore be connected to employment.

The National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute, or e2i, can work with employers to identify actual vacancies and emerging roles, while helping interested drivers understand the training required and move into jobs that suit their circumstances.

We should also explore models where employers provide structured workplace experience and a pathway into employment, with financial support during training. For a self-employed driver, time spent training can also mean income forgone.

At NTUC, we want workers to have viable next steps and sustainable livelihoods.

Another question deserves attention: If AVs eventually create significant new economic value, who benefits from it?

It would be a poor outcome if workers bore much of the disruption while the economic gains flowed elsewhere.

We should therefore explore ways for drivers and other affected workers to participate in new opportunities created around autonomous mobility.

Workers should have a voice in shaping the transition – early.

One possibility worth studying is whether cooperative or other worker-participation models could give drivers a viable stake in parts of the AV economy, whether through operating, managing or participating in new mobility services.

Building on the labour movement’s experience with cooperatives, we could explore whether such models are viable in autonomous mobility, while considering the capital, governance and risks involved.

A transition built with drivers

The AV transition should not be framed as a choice between resisting technology and embracing it.

Singapore will continue to adopt technology where it can make our transport system safer, more productive and better for commuters.

But how we make that transition matters.

The labour movement’s responsibility is to protect livelihoods, preserve meaningful work for those who want to continue driving, create credible alternatives and ensure workers have a voice in how the future of transport develops.

We must listen to drivers as the technology is deployed, and be prepared to adjust our approach when the impact on the ground becomes clearer.

Our taxi drivers, PHV drivers and bus captains have spent years moving Singapore and serving our commuters. They should not simply be asked to adapt to a future designed around them.

They should have a part in shaping it.

The writer is assistant secretary-general at NTUC and labour MP