Careem, a leading ride-hailing service in the Middle East and North Africa, recently announced a 400 percent increase in the number of its captains in Bahrain, thanks to a new partnership with the Public Transport Drivers Society. 

 

The employment of Bahraini taxi drivers as captains will provide them with additional income and more flexible working hours, while also creating shorter wait times for Careem customers. 

This partnership was established through a memorandum of understanding signed by Careem and the Public Transport Drivers Society (PTDS). 

 

PTDS was established in 2002 to represent workers in the local transportation industry, both by helping organise and operate the industry and by working to find more effective solutions to the challenges faced by drivers.

 

This step underscores Careem’s commitment to improving the transportation industry through collaborative measures, working alongside key industry players in Bahrain to provide job opportunities and reduce unemployment. This agreement also aims to enhance the quality of service that Careem provides to its customers, by allowing for quicker pick-up times and greater reach throughout the country, including in the southern parts of the kingdom, the company said. 

 

Through the MoU, the partners will also be working together to help ensure that more taxis are able to meet the specifications and standards required to work through smartphone applications. The standards set in the memorandum emphasize the importance Careem places on the Bahraini market, as well as the company’s eagerness to provide local customers with high-quality, convenient, and reliable service.

 

Careem’s Managing Director of Emerging Markets, Ibrahim Manna, said: “We at Careem are thrilled to further build on our commitment to the Bahraini market by bringing local taxi drivers into our esteemed fleet. Through our partnership with the Public Transport Drivers Society, we will be able to more actively contribute to the improvement of the transportation sector, while also elevating the services provided to our customers. Additionally, this step will contribute to the local job market by providing employment opportunities for both drivers and support staff. As always, we aspire to develop our services and solutions in ways that simplify and improve people’s lives.” - TradeArabia News Service