HCM CITY — The Female Motorbike Taxis Drivers' Club of HCM City's District 10, known for its school pick-up service, has become busy in recent days as the new school year starts next week.
Nguyen Thi Nga, a resident in District 10's Thanh Thai Street, said her child uses the taxi because she and her husband were busy with work.
Nga is one of many people signing contracts for the service this week at District 10's Women's Union, which runs the Female Xe Om (Motorbike Taxis Club) Club.
"A female driver of the club has taken my child to school for several years," another customer said.
She said she felt secure when the driver took her daughter to school and picked her up.
The Female Xe Om of District 10, founded five years ago, now has 50 members, aged 30 to 50. Each driver has from three to four customers.
"The club started the school pick-up service three years ago as demand for the service was growing," Nguyen Thi Anh Nguyet, the club's manager, said.
Nguyet said the club with the help of local police office had provided traffic laws to drivers and given loans to help poor members buy motorbikes.
Thirty-year-old Nguyen Xuan Thuy, the youngest member of the club, has been in the job for five years.
She has four customers, and all are high school students. She earns VND1.5 million (US$78) a month.
"I drive the students to school and back home in areas about 3.5km from my house. I can also help my parents who have a small grocery shop," Thuy said.
Le Thi Muoi joined the club last year. Previously, she parked at a bus station near her home and her customers were strangers.
Muoi said her customers are primary school and high school students.
"I drive them to school and back home at a fixed time and I have more free time to care for my children," she said. "My income also has increased."
Customers say these female drivers, working in a male-dominated sector, are conscious of gender equality on the job and seem to prove that they are as good as any man.
In an aim to prevent sexual harassment from some male customers and increase income, officials of the Women's Union in Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts said they would also create a group of female xe om drivers, most of whom work at bus stations and markets. — VNS