MOT said the 17-member committee will “adopt a whole-of-society approach in shaping Singapore’s AV future” and aim to ensure that AVs are safely integrated into Singapore’s land transport system, create new jobs and improve everyday connectivity for residents.
To that end, the committee will oversee work in four key areas.
The first is the near-term deployment of AVs, incorporating feedback from residents.
The second is regulations, liability and enforcement, to ensure that there is safety and accountability in the AV sector.
The third is industry and jobs, to grow local AV capabilities, create new jobs and “bring workers along” as AVs reshape transportation in Singapore.
The fourth is technology and safety, to ensure that the AV sector has robust cybersecurity and data policies.
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Ng Chee Meng took to Facebook on Thursday evening to comment on the committee’s formation and the impact that AVs would have on transport workers.
NTUC will be involved with the committee through the union representative, Ms Yeo Wan Ling, who is the organisation’s assistant secretary-general.
“As the workers’ representative on this committee, NTUC is committed to safeguard the livelihoods and job security of workers who will be affected by these technological changes in the transport sector,” Mr Ng said.
“We will seek practical solutions that give our workers sufficient time and resources to adapt effectively. Through the NTUC Job Security Council, we will also advocate for retraining programmes, skills development opportunities and alternative career pathways so that our transport workers can transition successfully and continue to benefit from better wages, welfare and work prospects.”
He added that NTUC would work closely with its transport unions and associations, gathering their feedback and ensuring that their voices are heard, as the mapping out of a sustainable future for Singapore’s transport sector continues.
