SOON, cab drivers may be more willing to queue for you at Takashimaya, Suntec City and other crowded places.

That is if they get a $2 or $3 surcharge, just like they do if they pick up passengers from the airport. This 'location surcharge' is the suggestion of MP Seng Han Thong, who heads the Taxi Operators' Association.

He wrote in the latest issue of NTUC News: 'Taxi companies need to impose location surcharges at all taxi stands in the CBD and Orchard Road areas during peak hours, hotel lobbies, major tourist attractions and nightspots.

'Only location surcharges can address the problem of balancing the demand and supply of taxi services at specific time and place, while allowing taxis to charge a more affordable rate at other places such as HDB estates and neighbourhood shopping malls.'

Mr Seng noted that there have been negative media reports about taxi drivers recently, highlighting those who solicit, overcharge or refuse to pick up passengers.

The Straits Times had run a series of stories, exposing taxi touts, and how gangs charged up to $40 for a $10 trip. The Land Transport Authority responded by imposing higher fines and demerit points.

Mr Seng said the bad hats account for only a handful of the 45,000 taxi drivers here. 'The silent majority are working hard to earn an honest living for their families. We know that a small group of errant taxi drivers has given the Singapore taxi service a bad name.'

INCREASED COSTS

He said that for drivers, operating costs have increased by about $780 a month since the beginning of this year.

'The pressure on them is immense because they have to work hard... to settle these increases in operating costs every day.'

The idea of location surcharges was welcomed by Mr Foo Chin Yong, 47, who has been driving a taxi for eight years. He said: 'This will help - it's a win-win because it is an incentive for us to travel to places where there are long queues.

'If we have this incentive, we will go back from the new towns, where we drop passengers, back to Orchard Road or other hotspots.'

Mr Seng also explained to The New Paper on Sunday why he had proposed CPF contributions for taxi drivers.

'Drivers are self-employed and if they don't contribute to their CPF, they don't have a social safety net, and they don't get to enjoy any of the bonuses that the Government gives out from time to time via the CPF account,' the MP said. 'The key thing is to get the drivers on board, and on the same footing as the rest of Singaporeans.'

Mr Foo had some doubts about this. 'This is a difficult issue,' the cabby said. 'Many of us are just living from hand to mouth, so it will have to be something new to help drivers. If you want to implement CPF, it will have to be done in a new way.'

So what does major player ComfortDelGro think of these suggestions?

Spokeman Tammy Tan said: 'We are constantly looking at ways to better cater to commuters' needs and to better match demand and supply during peak hours. Location pricing is just one way this can be done.

'With regards to CPF for drivers, this is a matter that is under discussion with our associations but it should be noted that unlike bus captains, taxi drivers are not under the employ of the company and are in fact their own bosses, much like remisiers, shopkeepers and hawkers.'

She said the company gives them fuel rebates, subsidies, medical insurance, bonuses and scholarships and bursaries for their children.