Support Package Proposed Amid Rising Fuel Costs
In light of escalating fuel costs, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh has urged Manpower Minister Tan See Leng to consider a support package for taxi and private-hire drivers to alleviate the financial strain caused by increasing petrol and diesel prices.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday (March 15), Mr. Singh emphasized that this issue was raised during Parliamentary Question Time last week, where he called for a support package similar to the one introduced for the aviation industry announced in Budget 2021.
He noted that many delivery drivers are feeling the impact of rising fuel costs, which erode their already narrow profit margins, forcing them to work longer hours. Mr. Singh encouraged the public to show patience toward these drivers and acknowledged the kindness of Singaporeans and foreigners who offer them drinks or even a glass of water upon completing a delivery. “All of us can play our part to emulate such behavior,” he stated.
Mr. Singh also expressed concern for private-hire bus drivers, who have been affected by both the pandemic and the decline in tourism. He mentioned that the Minister indicated that the current measures appeared to be supporting drivers, but assured that the government is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to implement additional support if necessary.
As of Thursday (March 10), fuel prices reached their highest levels across all types. For example, 92-octane petrol was priced at up to S$3.16 per liter, while 95-octane petrol was available for up to S$3.23 per liter, and 98-octane petrol cost as much as S$3.72 per liter, according to data from Fuel Kaki, an online price tracker managed by the Consumers Association of Singapore.
In contrast, just over a month ago, on February 7, 92-octane petrol was priced at up to S$2.70 per liter, 95-octane at S$2.76, and 98-octane at S$3.25. This indicates a price increase of as much as 17% over that period, depending on the fuel type.
