Phase 2 officially began on June 19, 2020, and private hire drivers are back in business as Singaporeans head out again after more than two months of circuit breaker measures that kicked in on April 7 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Surge in demand for PHV drivers

As a result, private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers have also seen a surge in business since the start of Phase 2.

Some Grab drivers shared their excitement in the ‎PHV Gojek/Grab ( Drivers & Riders SG ) Facebook group after seeing surge pricing for the first time in months, due to the spike in demand for drivers.

With more passengers, some drivers also shared that it had been a while since they've gotten an alert from the app to take a break.Another driver shared that it had been the first time in a long while since they've seen a "red" zone on the heat map, indicating a higher concentration of passengers looking for a ride.

More earnings

PHV drivers shared that they have been earning significantly more in the last couple of days with more people heading out.

A large portion of drivers have been hit hard by the pandemic, with many seeing significant losses in income in the last few months.

With many non-essential workers telecommuting and most people staying at home during the circuit breaker and Phase 1, it has been difficult for PHV and taxi drivers to make ends meet.

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Top image via Mothership Reader