Bus captains, technicians voice hopes and fears over autonomous vehicle rollout at NTUC- and NTWU-led talks

NTUC and National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) first focus group discussion (FGD) on the future of transport saw mixed reactions from seasoned bus captains and technicians.

The session saw some 40 bus captains and technicians share their thoughts on the introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs), opportunities for skills development, and career progression.

Go-Ahead Singapore Senior Bus Captain Salbiah Hajab said while she recognises the value of upgrading the transport industry with new technologies such as autonomous vehicles (AV), she felt that technology cannot yet replace human instincts.

“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,” said the industry veteran of 18 years.

Then there were others, like SMRT Buses Mentor and Chief Bus Captain Tan Lee Kun, who saw the changes as part and parcel of the evolving industry.

The 15-year industry veteran said: “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.”

The first session was held on 10 February 2026, in partnership with Go-Ahead Singapore, SBS Transit, SMRT Buses and Tower Transit.

In attendance were also leaders from the NTWU, CEOs and managing directors from all four public transport operators (PTOs), and representatives from the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

The FGD series will run through 2026, and they come at a time when the Government is preparing 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.

Findings will be consolidated and shared at key tripartite platforms, including the Inter-Ministerial AV Steering Committee and the LTA AV Workforce Readiness Workgroup, which will shape transition policies and training programmes.

NTWU takes early steps to gather workers’ concerns

Ahead of the FGD series, NTWU surveyed nearly 500 bus captains and technicians in 2025 to understand concerns over the rollout of AVs.

One in three respondents cited job security as their top worry, followed by concerns over a potential drop in pay.

Notably, one in three respondents remained confident that drivers will continue to play an important role after the rollout of AVs, which they felt remain far from widespread adoption.

The FGDs will delve deeper into bus captains’ and technicians’ sentiments, particularly concerns over career progression and job security.

NTWU Executive Secretary Yeo Wan Ling said the union takes the feedback of bus captains and technicians very 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,” she said.

Ms Yeo, who is also an NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, added that NTUC will continue to champion workers’ interests and work towards achieving better wages, welfare and work prospects.

Public transport operators committed to address feedback

After gathering the feedback from workers at the inaugural FGD, management parties from the various PTOs reaffirmed their commitment to support the bus captains and technicians in the transition.

Go-Ahead Singapore Managing Director Leonard Lee shared that the company is committed to ensuring that its 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,” he said.

SBS Transit Bus Business CEO Tommy Tan and SMRT Buses Managing Director Tan Peng Kuan said their respective organisations will work with NTWU to ensure the smooth transition to autonomous bus operations, including the upskilling and reskilling of workers 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,” said Mr Tommy Tan.

Sharing that people are the company’s most important asset, SMRT’s Mr Tan said: “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.”

Tower Transit Singapore Managing Director Winston Toh emphasised the importance of worker feedback.

He said: “We fully support the tripartite approach of listening to our workers and working together to arrive at better outcomes for everyone.”

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