Drivers to get higher pay

MANILA, Philippines—Soon, bus drivers and conductors in the country will receive higher salaries, more rest days and performance-based perks aimed at promoting public transport safety.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and bus transport groups on Friday forged a joint agreement that would see the implementation of these measures to reduce “risk-taking behavior” of public transport drivers.

The action plan, which will be adopted later, will also include the regulation of the number of working hours of bus drivers and their entitlement to mandatory benefits such as overtime, nightshift differential, rest day, holiday pay and service incentive leave, said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

The action plan would also require public utility bus (PUB) operators to adopt part-fixed, part-performance-based compensation system for drivers and conductors, added Baldoz.

The fixed component will not be lower than the applicable minimum wage in the region, while safety observed by drivers—such as zero road accident and traffic violation—and company revenues, among others, will be the factors considered for the performance pay.

All PUBs will also be obliged to comply with all the mandatory social security benefits—Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig—to improve the social protection of workers in the transport industry.