COMMUTERS are not the only ones looking for cabbies nowadays. Taxi operators are also running after them, doling out goodies to woo them in the face of a growing cabby shortage.

Gone are the days when retrenched workers, including middle-aged professionals, rushed to get a job as a taxi driver.

The tighter labour market in recent months, which has created more job options, has seen to that.

Competition among taxi companies to boost their fleet has added to the pressure to get and retain drivers. Firms dangle a host of benefits, such as annual performance bonuses and rental-free periods.

A cabby who qualifies for nearly all the perks on offer can take home about twice as much as his average monthly income of about S$2,000 (RM4,600) – more if he picks up call bookings and peak-hour fares.

SMRT Taxis is wooing new drivers with cash incentives of S$2,800 (RM6,440) over 18 months and rental-free days.

Premier Taxis’ package also includes annual cash incentives. This has enabled the company, which has a fleet of about 1,800 taxis, to push ahead with expansion.

Smaller companies such as Premier Taxis, Smart Taxi and TransCab also offer benefits such as medical insurance and annual cash bonuses pegged to the company’s performance.

ComfortDelGro, the largest cab operator with about two-thirds of the 23,000 taxis, said it has had various incentives and performance bonuses for its drivers since the 1970s. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network 

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/1/asia/17594399&sec=asia