Public transport fare adjustments to take into account
bus drivers' wage increase
By Dylan Loh | Posted: 06
December 2012 1626 hrs
SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said on
Thursday public transport fare adjustments, due next year, will
take into account the need to raise bus drivers' wages.
Mr Lui was speaking for the first time in the aftermath of the
illegal strike by bus drivers from China last week, and said public
transport cost increases over the years have outpaced fare
adjustments.
He was trying out the route of a new service on Thursday under the
government's billion-dollar Bus Service Enhancement
Programme.
Mr Lui said the 34 Chinese bus drivers out of work from SMRT due to
the strike make up only about 0.5 per cent of the total pool of
8,000-odd drivers.
Therefore, the impact on bus enhancements should be minimal.
What's of concern, however, is the lingering effect of the strike
on recruitment and retention of bus drivers, and Mr Lui said the
government is watching this carefully.
Looking at public transport fare adjustments of past years, Mr Lui
said while fares have increased by 0.3 per cent, costs in fuel and
wages for instance have gone up by 30 per cent.
He said the fare review committee recognises this "significant
mismatch".
Mr Lui said: "Any fare adjustment will allow the two operators to
have more resources, in time to come, to make further salary
adjustments to their drivers. We recognise that the drivers need to
be paid more. (The) question is, where is that money coming
from?
"So we need to see the relationship between any fare adjustment,
wage increase, and any other forms of government support that we
might be required to give to the operators."
Mr Lui said it is difficult to wean dependence off foreign bus
drivers as Singaporeans may not want to take up the job.
So salary adjustments, at least, will make the occupation more
attractive to locals.
He said previous salary adjustments have helped to increase the
recruitment of drivers, both local and foreign.
When asked whether SMRT should face any penalty as a result of the
strike, Mr Lui said the operator will be evaluated according to
quality of service standards.
Impact on bus services as a result of the two-day strike will be
taken into account.
Mr Lui said he also spoke to SMRT's Chief Executive Desmond Kuek on
the strike, and said the organisation needs to improve in many
areas.
He said Mr Kuek needs to be given time to turn things around.
From December 16, two new SBS Transit bus services will start
plying under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme.
Service 50, which will start service on December 16, will cover Ang
Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Sengkang and Punggol.
Express Service 513 will start on December 17, connecting residents
of Tampines to the Central Business District. This service only
runs during the morning and evening peak period on weekdays.
In addition, four new bus services will be added to the bus network
in the first quarter of 2013.
Three of them come under the government's enhancement programme,
while the other is a trunk service by SBS Transit at its own
cost.
- CNA/de
