NTUC Commences Engagements with Public Transport Workers on AV Transition

All Four Public Transport Operators Commit to Supporting Workers

as NTUC and the National Transport Workers' Union Begin Year-Long Engagement

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and its affiliated National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) held the first in a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to gather feedback from public transport workers, comprising bus captains and technicians, on preparing for the future of transport, including the introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and opportunities for skills development and career progression. This initiative reflects NTUC and NTWU's commitment to ensuring workers remain employable ahead of industry shifts, with relevant upskilling as the sector evolves. This is a year-long initiative where NTUC will engage professional driver groups such as bus captains and point-to-point drivers to understand their concerns and better support them through the transition.

The inaugural FGD session, held in partnership with Go-Ahead Singapore, SBS Transit, SMRT Buses and Tower Transit brought together 40 bus captains and technicians to gather their feedback. Leaders from the National Transport Workers’ Union as well as CEO and Managing Directors from all four Public Transport Operators (PTOs) also attended the FGD, reflecting the industry's commitment to supporting workers to prepare for the future of transport. Representatives from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) were also present.

The FGDs come at a time 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 buses¹.

NTWU Gathered Public Transport Workers’ Concerns in 2025 Survey

Ahead of the FGD series, NTWU had conducted a survey in 2025 with close to 500

respondents comprising bus captains and technicians to understand their challenges and anxieties regarding the rollout of AVs. One in three respondents expressed concern that AVs will impact their jobs, with job security being their top worry, followed by a drop in pay.

Notably, 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 FGDs seek to delve deeper into bus captains’ and technicians’ sentiments, understand their concerns about career progression, which is often closely tied to job security, so that these concerns can be addressed.

Ms Yeo Wan Ling, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the National Transport Workers' Union, said: "When bus captains and technicians tell us that they are worried about their jobs, we take that 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. Our public transport workers who are prepared to upskill, need the assurance that it will lead to career progression, and as AVs roll out, their safety must remain a priority throughout this transition. NTUC will continue to champion our workers’ interests and work towards achieving better wages, welfare and work prospects."

Dean of Singapore Bus Academy, Ms Goh Puay San said: “LTA is working with Public Transport Operators and the National Transport Workers' Union 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. This is to ensure that they are equipped with the required skills and can position themselves to take up new and meaningful roles in the evolving land transport network."

Concerns and Clarifications from Public Transport Workers

At the inaugural session, bus captains and technicians raised questions about how retraining would be structured and whether older workers would have equal access to new roles. Several bus captains expressed interest in the safety operator function, while others sought clarity on how the transition might affect their income. NTWU will use these early insights to shape future sessions and inform its advocacy with the Government and PTOs.

The following quotes were gathered from bus captains who participated in the FGD on 9 February 2026:

1. Ms Salbiah Binte Hajab, Senior Bus Captain III, Go-Ahead Singapore (18 years of service), said: “I appreciate that our voices as bus captains are being heard in this focus group discussion. While I recognise the value of upgrading our transport industry with new technology, I have real concerns about AVs. In my years of experience, I’ve relied on my instincts and judgment to prevent accidents, stopping in time when danger appeared, staying alert in ways that a machine may not be able to replicate. Technology is impressive, but 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. These are questions that need answers before we move forward.”

    

2. Ms Jane Lili Lee, Bus Captain, Tower Transit (6 years of service), said: "This concerns our rice bowl I hope the government will ensure job security for transport workers as AVs are introduced. There is a human part of our work that technology cannot replicate. We are passionate about our jobs. We put our hearts into serving our passengers and building relationships. Furthermore, an AV cannot easily replace the intuition of an experienced driver. For example, when we see a cyclist, we use our judgment to adjust our speed and anticipate their next move rather than coming to a stop.”

    

3. Mr Tan Lee Kun, Mentor and Chief Bus Captain 2, SMRT Buses (15 years of service), said: “Ultimately, technology will continue to evolve, but I’m not worried because I can always reskill and upskill. Training and experience are key. If given the opportunity to take on a safety operator role, I would look forward to it. Safety is a big part of my job and that will not change for me. My advice to fellow bus captains taking part in the other focus group discussion is simple: speak up, share your views, and don’t be shy.”

    

4. Mr Guek Peng Kian, Senior Bus Captain 1, SBS Transit (7 years of service), said: “AVs will not entirely replace bus captains because there is still a need for the human touch, especially when serving senior passengers and wheelchair-bound commuters. The technology is not ready for full service, but for partial routes like feeder services, it may not have as big an impact. The real question is how authorities, companies and union work together to ensure a smooth transition. Bus captains can be transformed into safety operators or other roles. It’s about how you view and accept change. The important part is that everyone works together to make sure no one is left behind.”

The FGD series will continue throughout 2026 so that workers' feedback can inform decisions at every stage of the transition. Findings will be consolidated and shared at relevant tripartite platforms, including the Inter-Ministerial AV Steering Committee and the LTA AV Workforce Readiness Workgroup, to help shape transition policies and training programme designs.

PTOs Expressed Support and Commitment to Address Workers’ Feedback

Mr Leonard Lee, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Singapore, said: "Go-Ahead Singapore is committed to the welfare of our bus captains. As the public transport industry evolves, we will ensure that our workers have access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive. No worker who is willing to learn and adapt should be left behind, and we will work hand in hand with our tripartite partners to make that a reality."

Mr Tommy Tan, CEO of the Bus Business at SBS Transit said: “SBS Transit is

committed to supporting our Bus Captains as the industry evolves. Together with the National Transport Workers’ Union, we will ensure the smooth transition to autonomous bus operations, including comprehensive re skilling and up skilling to prepare them for new roles. Our Bus Captains are the backbone of our operations, and we are dedicated to helping every one of them grow with us as we build a resilient and future ready public transport workforce.”

Mr Tan Peng Kuan, Managing Director at SMRT Buses, said: "Our people are our most important asset. We engage them,  listen carefully to their views and suggestions, and bring them along in any transformation journey that we embark on.  We are committed to investing in our bus captains through upskilling programmes and creating new career pathways that will allow them to take on higher-value roles as autonomous vehicle technology matures over time. We will continue to work closely with the National Transport Workers’ Union to ensure our workers are well-supported through this transition."

Mr Winston Toh, Managing Director of Tower Transit Singapore said: “It is essential

that our public transport workers remain at the heart of this transition to autonomous vehicles. Their deep insights, built over many years, are an invaluable asset. Tower Transit is committed to understanding their concerns, keeping them engaged in their roles, and equipping them with the support and training they need to navigate this shift with confidence. We fully support the tripartite approach of listening to our workers and working together to arrive at better outcomes for everyone.”

Building on a Strong Foundation of Tripartite Partnership

Over the years, the public transport industry and tripartite partners have navigated technological shifts, from bus conductors to automated train systems to electric buses. In each instance, workers who adapted continued in meaningful roles. The FGD initiative builds on NTUC and NTWU's longstanding partnership with LTA and the PTOs to support public transport workers through industry changes.

NTUC and NTWU have been building partnerships with all four PTOs to support workforce development. SBS Transit was the first PTO to form a Company Training Committee (CTC) with NTWU in 2019, leveraging the NTUC CTC Grant to implement AI-powered maintenance systems and create new career tracks for technicians. In October 2025, NTUC, NTWU, and SMRT signed a Memorandum of Understanding appointing SMRT as a Queen Bee under the CTC initiative to uplift approximately 20,000 workers across the public transport ecosystem. As unionised companies under NTWU, Tower Transit and Go-Ahead Singapore work closely with the union to ensure competitive wages and fair employment terms for their bus captains.

NTWU has also advocated for better day to day working conditions through the Bus Safety Tripartite Taskforce in March 2025, which introduced protected meal breaks and limited new bus routes to two-hour runtimes. These measures have been accepted across all four PTOs and will be implemented in phases, such as when new bus contracts are introduced.