1 in 3 public transport workers concerned over autonomous vehicles' impact on jobs: NTUC

A 2025 survey conducted by the National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) showed that one in three respondents expressed concern that autonomous vehicles (AVs) would impact their jobs.

The main concerns were job security, followed by a drop in pay.

In a press release on Feb. 10, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) announced the commencement of engagements with Public Transport Workers on the AV transition.

The year-long initiative by NTUC and NTWU will engage professional driver groups, such as bus captains and point-to-point drivers, to understand and support them.

This comes as "the government prepares to deploy six autonomous vehicles from mid-2026 on services 400 (Marina Bay) and 191 (One-North) for an initial three-year pilot, operating alongside existing manned buses".

'One in three respondents remained confident'

With close to 500 respondents comprising bus captains and technicians, the survey was held ahead of a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) between the NTUC, its affiliated NTWU and public transport workers on preparing for the future of transport.

Respondents expressed concerns over the impact of AVs and worried about the security of their occupations moving forward.

"One in three respondents remained confident that drivers will continue to play an important role in the rollout of AVs and that AVs are still far from widespread adoption."

The inaugural FGD session, held in partnership with Go-Ahead Singapore, SBS Transit, SMRT Corporation and Tower Transit brought together 40 bus captains and technicians to gather their feedback.

Industry leaders from NTWU, CEOs and Managing Directors of all four Public Transport Operators (PTOs) and representatives from Land Transport Authority (LTA) were also present.

The FGDs were held to better understand bus captains' and technicians' sentiments about career progression, which is often tied to job security, so that the concerns could be addressed.

Public transport workers question retraining & older workers' access to roles

Bus captains and technicians raised questions about how retraining would be structured and whether older workers would have equal access to new roles.

Guek Peng Kian, an SBS Transit Senior Bus Captain 1 with seven years of service, said "the real question is how authorities, companies and unions work together to ensure a smooth transition", ensuring that "everyone works together to make sure no one is left behind".

NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the National Transport Workers' Union, Yeo Wan Ling, said that feedback from public transport workers is taken seriously.

"We are bringing together our tripartite partners now, so that our workers’ voices are heard and included in policymaking, to shape decisions that affect their livelihoods."

Yeo said that public transport workers who are prepared to upskill need the assurance that it will lead to career progression, that safety remains a priority as AVs roll out and that NTUC would champion its workers' interests.

Goh Puay San, Dean of the Singapore Bus Academy, said that training programmes are implemented to equip workers with the required skills to position themselves in the evolving transport network.

"LTA is working with Public Transport Operators and NTWU on the support and training programmes to prepare transport workers, such as bus captains, for new roles in the AV industry, such as safety and remote operators, fleet managers, and other positions in technical and passenger service functions."

'An AV cannot easily replace the intuition of an experienced driver'

Salbiah Binte Hajab, Senior Bus Captain III for Go-Ahead Singapore, who has served for 18 years, said that while the technology is impressive, "it cannot replace the human awareness that keeps passengers safe every day".

"And beyond safety, we must ask: if autonomous vehicles are introduced in Singapore, what happens to all of us, the bus captains?"

Jane Lili Lee, a Tower Transit Bus Captain with six years of experience, echoed Salbiah's sentiments, saying that "an AV cannot easily replace the intuition of an experienced driver".

Guek also noted that the role still requires "a human touch, especially when serving senior passengers and wheelchair-bound commuters".

The FGD series will continue throughout 2026.

Top photo from Shawnanggg/Unsplash and NTUC