Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg

Since dining in was disallowed, more rest areas for delivery riders have been popping up at various malls and community centres.

Previously, some riders and taxi drivers were spotted having quick meals in their vehicles.

More rest areas

On May 22, secretary-general of NTUC Ng Chee Meng expressed his support for drivers and riders.

Ng shared that the government worked together with various organisations such as the National Taxi Association (NTA) and the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) to ensure those who make a living on the road have adequate areas for rest.

Over 30 venues across Singapore have been set up these workers.

The National Delivery Champions Association has compiled a list of locations where drivers and riders can take a break and have their meals, without resorting to eating in the confines of their vehicles.

The list was updated as of May 21.

Some of the locations here have been added by Mothership.

Central

• Multi-Purpose Hall next to Radin Mas CC
• Toa Payoh East CC
• 142A Toa Payoh Lor 2
• AMK Hub — Foodfare @ Level 3 and Malaysian Boleh @ Basement 2
• Swing-by @ Thomson Plaza — Koufu foodcourt
• Marymount CC
• Suntec City — Food Republic and Big Appetite
• Tiong Bahru CC
• Kampong Glam CC
• Hwi Yoh CC
• Bao Logistics at Northpoint Bizhub 2 Yishun Industrial St 1 #07-09

North-East

• Eunos CC
• Kaki Bukit CC
• Punggol Plaza — Koufu foodcourt
• 308 Punggol Walk Foodgle Coffeeshop
• Tampines N4 Neighbourhood Centre at Blk 475
• Tampines Changkat CC
• 842A Tampines St 82, Multi-Purpose Hall
• Rivervale CC
• Sengkang CC
• Pasir Ris East CC
• Elias CC
• Downtown East — L2 Event Square, beside Starbucks

South-East

• Braddell Heights CC
• Kampong Kembangan CC
• Kampong Ubi CC
• Geylang Serai CC
• Heartbeat@Bedok at 11 Bedok North St 1

South-West

• The Frontier CC
• Jurong Point — Cantine @ B1, Kopitiam @ Level 3 and Malaysian Boleh @ Level 3
• Gek Poh Shopping Centre — Koufu

North-West

• Woodlands CC
• Sembawang CC
• 340 Choa Chu Kang Loop, next to Keat Hong CC
• Zhenghua CC

More assistance

Various forms of assistance were announced recently to help drivers and riders alike to cope with the impact of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).

On May 21, the government revealed that it will provide a S$27 million one-off top up to the Covid-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF) for taxi and private hire car drivers.

Eligible drivers will receive an additional S$10 per day top-up through the CDRF from May 16, 2021, to end June 2021.

Drivers will now receive S$25 per vehicle per day, up from the existing S$15 per vehicle per day.

The Housing & Development Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority car parks have also extended the grace period for short-term parking from 10 to 20 minutes, to facilitate the increase demand and volume of deliveries.

In response to these measures, the NTA and NPHVA stated in a media statement that they were heartened by this additional support.

The government is currently considering their request for the CDRF to be extended beyond June.

This is because the associations foresee drivers and riders will continue to face difficulties in their income streams even after the heightened measures are lifted as there will be a recovery period.

In their statement, it was also suggested for Electronic Road Pricing charges to remain at S$0 on arterial roads, including those within the Central Business District.

Top photo from Ng Chee Meng / FB