Report: Bus drivers and conductors will soon get fixed salaries

Bus drivers and conductors might soon have a little more to look forward to after a long month of plying Manila’s traffic-filled streets.

According to a report by Inquirer.net, employees working in the local public utility bus transport industry will receive a fixed salary and performance-based incentives under revised guidelines set by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).

Under the Revised Operational Guidelines on the Adoption of Part Fixed, Part Performance-Based Compensation Scheme in the Public Bus Transport Industry, bus operators must implement a “mutually agreed upon” compensation scheme for drivers and conductors.  

The fixed-wage component must be no less than the applicable minimum wage, and the performance-based component should be based on parameters that include ridership/revenue and safety. Wage-related benefits such as 13th month pay, overtime pay, service incentive leaves, and holiday and premim pay must be included, too.

Labor inspectors will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing said guidelines. According to the report, the implementation of the guidelines is set for March 9, 2019.

Do you think these regulations will help bus operators provide commuters with better service?