For the first time, the two public transport - SMRT and SBS
Transit have come together to organise a job fair to attract and
train about 280 Singaporean bus drivers.
They are tapping $3.2 million worth in SPUR funding in the
process, and plans to use it over the next two years to recruit 560
local bus drivers in all.
Geraldine Soh finds out if locals will take the
bait.
The basic monthly pay is between $1,000 to $1,200.
But by working overtime, that could go up to between $1,700 and
$2,500, excluding travel benefits and bonuses.
The low pay is not the only reason why locals shun the job.
President of the National Transport Workers' Union Lau Lye
Hock.
"Our members have to get up early in the morning 2am to prepare
for their early shift. And when they do the afternoon shift, they
end late, these are the two challenges."
Mr Lau says the union is trying to negotiate for a higher
starting pay and more flexible working hours for the nearly 7,000
public bus drivers, most of who are their members.
With the transport companies facing greater pressure to increase
bus service frequencies, and plans to expand their fleet, SMRT
Corporation's President and CEO Saw Phaik Hwa says they've had to
schedule in more overtime work for their current drivers.
Either this, or resort to hiring foreigners.
A quarter of the SMRT's 1,700 bus drivers are Singaporeans, the
rest are PRs, Malaysians or Chinese nationals.
At SBS Transit, 40 percent of their 5,200 bus drivers are
Singaporeans.
Friday's job fair, with 280 vacancies attracted 77 job seekers
in the first few hours.
220 had initially registered, but after an industry briefing and
screening programme, the number was whittled down.
35-year-old R Kannan was among the job seekers.
The science degree holder chose SMRT over SBS Transit, citing
the five-day work week and higher starting salary as the main
draw.
He says at a job fair some months back, SBS Transit had offered
only $1,000 in monthly starting pay for five-and-a-half-days of
work.
"You must be interested in the work, but you must earn money
also right? You no money how can?"
SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa:
"There's no end to more salary being more attractive. I think
the reality is what the industry can bear and be competitive for
the great of the people we're employing. Several years back we
started on a five-day week. I think it's quite unheard of, which is
really quite cutting-edge."
SBS Transit's Executive Director Gan Juay Kiat.
"But captains, they would have been scheduled daily small amount
of overtime. We're very mindful to make sure they don't exceed the
law of 72 hours per month. Our priority is to recruit more
Singaporeans and we constantly review our salary packages, to make
sure it's market competitive."
52-year-old Ismail bin Hassan, says he's prepared to work
overtime for $1,500 as it offers more stability than his taxi
driving stint.
Compared with his previous job as an operation technician,
$1,200 in starting pay is also much better.
"In present situation got no choice because for us above 50 they
ask our age then they call us back but they never call back so it's
very make you feel very down. I'm prepared if i don't get this I
will go back to driving taxi. "
Mr Ismail is among the 30 applicants who got the job of a bus
driver.
--938Live
