Latest news with #privateHireDrivers
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: If you are a private hire driver, should there be a limit to the number of hours you work?
CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: If you are a private hire driver, should there be a limit to the number of hours you work? The recent passing of 49-year-old driver Gavin Neo from a stroke has raised serious questions about the long hours some drivers are putting in just to make ends meet. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss more with Tan Ying Ying, Director of NTUC Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit. 28 mins CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself - Vidhi Modi on launching XVXII Jewellery with only $500 and growing it into a multi-storey flagship at Haji Lane Vidhi Modi, Founder of XVXII Jewellery, started her entrepreneurial journey early, from selling handmade bookmarks and masala popcorn at the age of seven to launching her own waterproof and tarnish-free jewellery brand. Starting XVXII with just $500 during the pandemic, Vidhi grew it from a bedroom startup to a three-storey flagship store at Haji Lane, all while juggling a degree in Cyber Security. In this episode of A Letter to Myself, Vidhi tells guest host Vaisali Prabhakaran about the personal journey behind her brand, the influence of her family, the lessons learned through failure and resilience, and her vision for global expansion. 41 mins CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself - Ray Kua on turning limited resources and lifelong discipline into award-winning sports academies Ray Kua is the founder of three private sports academies: SwimRay, GoalKick Football, and Triple Threat Basketball. A former athlete who trained under constrained conditions with limited resources, From a young age, discipline and structure were key values that were further sharpened during his time in the Naval Diving Unit. In this episode of A Letter to Myself, Ray tells guest host Vaisali Prabhakaran how those early experiences shaped his approach to coaching, how his first few sessions laid the groundwork for award-winning academies, and why he's driven to make quality coaching more accessible across Singapore. 36 mins CNA938 Rewind - A Letter To Myself - Izyan Mellyna on acting, lupus, and finding her voice beyond the screen Izyan Mellyna lit up our screens as a child actor and she hasn't stopped since. Today, she's an actress, content creator, and host of This Iz Podcast. But behind the spotlight is a story of strength: Izyan lives with lupus, a chronic illness she's faced with grace and grit. In this episode of A Letter to Myself, Izyan tells guest host Vaisali Prabhakaran on how she navigated fame, found her voice, and the powerful lessons she's learned along the way, from her childhood dreams to her hopes for the future. 39 mins
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Uber and taxi drivers fear more racist violence and repeats of last year's riots, survey finds
A new survey has revealed the alarming dangers private hire drivers face while on the job, with many expressing fear for their safety due to violent attacks. The GMB union's poll of 400 drivers exposed a series of harrowing incidents, including drivers being threatened with knives and machetes, subjected to racial abuse, and having stones hurled at their vehicles. The findings paint a disturbing picture of the risks these drivers encounter daily, with one respondent admitting to carrying a baseball bat for protection. Many drivers reported being too scared to work. Looking specifically at the far-right riots that targeted ethnic minorities last year, a massive 85 per cent of GMB's respondents said they believe similar events could happen this year. One driver said it was ''heartbreaking to witness humanity at its worst'. In July and August last year, dozens of far-right rallies took place across the UK over several days, with violence aimed at targets like immigration centres, lawyers' offices and charities. Over 1000 people were arrested during and after the events, with hundreds injured. The survey from GMB found that almost half (46 per cent) of their private hire drivers say they were impacted by the riots themselves. GMB national officer Eamon O'Hearn, speaking at the union's annual conference in Brighton, said: 'These terrifying survey results show our private hire drivers were on the front line of last year's riots, and a huge majority fear they may happen again this summer.' One respondent said: 'I passed by a mosque and had several people approach me with knives and machetes so I speeded up and did the quickest U-turn ever and got out of there.' Another said a passenger in a van threw a cup of coffee in his car. Another driver said: 'I do not feel safe in the United Kingdom any more, I have started to carry my own baseball bats as I am in fear of having acid thrown at me.'
