SINGAPORE - Taxi drivers will be able to upgrade their skills in customer service, safe driving and information technology (IT), with the help of a new $2.52 million training fund.

The scheme is expected to benefit some 4,000 cabbies over the next two years, the National Taxi Association (NTA) and the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability (e2i) said on Monday.

Under the scheme, taxi operators may receive up to 90 per cent in fee subsidies for courses which help train their drivers to improve service standards and reduce accidents.

To help cabbies cope with the loss of income when attending such courses, the scheme will also support absentee payroll of up to $7.50 per hour for each driver.

Mr Ang Hin Kee, NTA's executive advisor, said that many taxi drivers are keen to learn more about how they can leverage on gadgets and technologies such as taxi booking apps to better serve customers. Many also want to upgrade their skills to be safer road users.

"Similarly, commuters benefit by getting to their destinations safer, with better service. All in all, this means safer roads for all", Mr Ang added.