“At first, I didn’t know what to do. All I wanted was custody of my children,” he said.
The divorce proceedings ended three years ago, and he today has joint custody of his 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.
Despite his dedication, 44-year-old Leng Say Boon grapples with financial strain, making an average of only $1,200 monthly to support himself and his two young children.
He has plied the road daily as a taxi driver for the past seven years. But his journey in life has been far from smooth.
Adding to his financial challenges, Mr Leng also has diabetes.
Even though he and his ex-wife have joint custody of their children, Mr Leng is working hard to provide financially for them.
Fortunately, Mr Leng’s mother helps to take care of the children daily while he is at work.
Mr Leng added: “Before COVID-19, I could earn about $3,000 to $4,000 a month driving my taxi. But things are not the same anymore, even though they are back to normal now.
“I drive my taxi from 7am to 6pm every day. I know I can earn more if I drive longer, but at my children’s ages, I know I will miss a lot in their lives if I work longer.”
NTUC Cares about Mr Leng
Assistance from NTUC has been very helpful for Mr Leng, a member of the National Taxi Association (NTA).
A few years ago, NTA encouraged him to apply for assistance from the NTUC-U Care Fund.
As a result, since 2022, Mr Leng has received between $200 and $300 a year through the NTUC Care Fund (e-Vouchers) and $150 a year through the NTUC Care Fund (Special Assistance).
In March 2024, Mr Leng received an additional $60 from the NTUC Care Fund (Special Assistance) on top of $150.
The additional quantum is given to beneficiaries with school-going children taking private school buses.
Mr Leng pays about $50 monthly for his daughter’s school transport fees.
Fees for private school buses have been increasing over the years.
In 2024, the Ministry of Education announced that it would allow private school bus operators to increase fees, capped at 13 per cent.
In 2023, the price increase was capped at 7 per cent.
For Mr Leng, the school transport fees add to his financial burden.
This is the first time Mr Leng has paid for his children’s school transport fees, as his daughter just entered Primary 1 this year.
He is glad NTUC is providing additional assistance. He said: “With the additional $60, I can spend more on the children or groceries.”
He is grateful for the various assistance from NTUC but hopes for a brighter future in which he can financially support himself.
He said: “I hope I can earn more in the future. If I can do that, the assistance that NTUC gives me can help other people in need instead.”
Family over Anything Else
His family remains his top priority, with most of his earnings and the assistance from NTUC going towards providing for his children and maintaining their modest two-room HDB flat in Taman Jurong.
He cannot afford to bring his children out or treat them with toys or nice food.
The financial aftermath of his divorce three years ago hit him the hardest, depleting $30,000 from his savings to secure custody of his children. He even had to borrow money from his friends.
A few years ago, Mr Leng considered working as a bus driver to earn more, but the shift work would have meant he would spend less time with his children.
“I can make do with the little money I have now, but I can’t get back the time lost being away from my children. My children are more important to me than anything else,” he said.