950 bus drivers, 950 conductors get minimum wage, incentives

Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz reported yesterday that 957 bus drivers and 950 bus conductors have benefited from the legislated minimum wage and performance incentives as proof of their compliance with Department Order 118-12, the rules and regulations governing employment and working conditions of drivers and conductors in the utility bus transport industry.

“With this, many more bus drivers and conductors are guaranteed (a) minimum wage and incentive pay under D.O. 118-12,” Baldoz said.

According to the report of DoLE-Region 4-A OIC-Regional Director Alex Avila, nine companies have 995 running buses in their fleet being manned by 957 bus drivers and 940 bus conductors. More bus firms are undergoing voluntary compliance and will be issued their LSCCs within the next four weeks.

The nine bus companies are Greenstar, Dela Rosa Liner, Worthy Transport, Inc., HM Transport, Inc., ALPS Batangas City , Jam Transit, Jam Liner and RRCG.

Baldoz added that DoLE Region 4-A continues to implement its region-wide advocacy campaign, the required basic occupational safety and health (BOSH) training for safety officers and the national competency (NC) training for bus drivers to ensure that bus companies are able to comply with the order and other labor laws and regulations.

The BOSH is a mandatory training conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Center, an attached agency of the DoLE, to ensure occupational safety and health in all workplaces, be they bus companies, or factories or air-conditioned offices.

The Training Regulations for Driving NC II and NC III, on the other hand, will provide the minimum standard for the training of drivers of buses, trucks and articulated vehicles. The training regulations prescribe the minimum requirement to be complied with by training institutions in terms of curriculum, equipment, facilities and trainer’s qualifications.

She added that the DoLE will continue to inspect bus companies in order to assess their compliance with DO 118-12 and provide them technical assistance in compliance with it.

“Our primordial consideration in pursuing this major reform in the bus transport sector is the public safety of the bus riding public and the welfare and protection of our working bus drivers and conductors,” the labor chief said. –Mina Diaz, Daily Tribune