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The new two- to six-month pathway offers part-time and full-time training, helping drivers build on their existing experience while managing work and caregiving responsibilities.
Taxi and private hire car (PHC) drivers in Singapore will have a new route into the public bus sector under a structured pathway designed to support career transitions.
The Ministry of Transport (MOT), Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), and public transport operators have rolled out the Point-to-Point Driver to Bus Captain (P2P-BC) Pathway under the Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for public transport professionals.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) facilitated the development and implementation of the pathway, which was developed in consultation with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and its affiliated Platform Work Associations (PWAs), the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and National Taxi Association (NTA), as well as the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU).
The programme provides taxi and PHC drivers with a structured route to becoming bus captains, allowing them to explore new career opportunities while building on their existing driving experience.
Supporting drivers as Singapore’s transport landscape evolves
Drivers continue to play an important role in Singapore’s transport ecosystem, with their experience remaining relevant as the sector evolves. Singapore is progressively adopting autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies to improve connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas, expand transport options for commuters and complement the existing taxi and PHC ecosystem.
With the number of AVs expected to reach the hundreds over the next two years, job displacement is not imminent.
However, to give drivers more options to diversify their skills and support career progression, the Government and tripartite partners have introduced a support package tailored to their needs.
This includes structured employment pathways through CCPs, a new training incentive scheme, as well as enhanced outreach and career guidance.
As part of the package, a CCP for AV Specialists has been rolled out to equip drivers with technical and operational skills for roles in the AV sector, including safety operators, remote operators and fleet management positions.
The new P2P-BC pathway under the CCP for Public Transport Professionals provides another option for P2P drivers who are interested in becoming bus captains but may need greater flexibility and support during the transition.
Both programmes are administered by the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).
P2P drivers can choose part-time or full-time training
Under the P2P-BC pathway, drivers moving into the public bus sector can undergo training on either a part-time or full-time basis.
The programme will take between two and six months and includes on-the-job training, as well as opportunities to build emerging and adjacent skills such as electric vehicle diagnostics and bus interchange operations.
Drivers who already hold a Class 4 driving licence will be eligible for a shorter training programme, allowing them to make a faster transition.
The pathway was developed with the working realities of P2P drivers in mind. Many P2P drivers value the flexibility of their work, particularly when balancing employment with personal or caregiving responsibilities.
In response, the Government, industry and unions worked together to build flexibility into the pathway, including part-time on-the-job training.
Sun Xueling, Senior Minister, State for Transport and National Development, said the new pathway would help ensure P2P drivers are equipped to take up new opportunities as technology reshapes the transport sector.
She added: “The new P2P-BC pathway offers drivers a flexible route into a stable and meaningful public transport career, while building on their driving experience and equipping them with future-ready skills.”
Dilys Boey, Chief Executive, SWDA, also pointed out that workers should have access to different pathways to grow their careers as Singapore’s transport landscape changes.
She said: “The new P2P-BC pathway under the CCP for Public Transport Professionals is designed with the realities of P2P drivers in mind, offering structured training that builds on their existing driving experience while equipping them with emerging competencies needed in the broader transportation industry.”
Yeo Wan Ling, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Advisor to NPHVA and NTA, as well as Executive Secretary, NTWU, said there would continue to be a need for P2P drivers even as AVs are progressively introduced.
She noted that drivers have highlighted flexibility as an important consideration, particularly for those with caregiving responsibilities. NPHVA, NTA and NTWU therefore worked with tripartite partners to ensure the new pathway provides flexibility in how drivers undergo training.
“As mobility evolves, we will continue working to create more opportunities and pathways for our drivers, so that the future of mobility provides flexibility, viable livelihoods and meaningful choices for them.”
New bus captain incentives to take effect from 2027
The new pathway complements broader efforts by the Government and tripartite partners to attract and retain local bus captains. Participants will also be eligible for the increased starting salaries and enhanced sign-on bonuses for new local bus captains, which will take effect from 1 January 2027.
Drivers interested in the P2P-BC pathway will be able to apply directly for bus captain positions with public bus operators or visit the Government’s AV transition support package website for more information.
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