Pay for PRC drivers fair and equitable: SMRT

SINGAPORE - SMRT has taken a series of actions in response to the concerns of drivers from China (PRC) who had gone on an illegal strike last week and has also explained to them their pay structure.

Speaking in Mandarin yesterday at a town hall meeting with SMRT's PRC drivers, Desmond Kuek, president and chief executive officer of the public transport operator, described their compensation as "fair and equitable", compared to that of their Malaysian counterparts.

PRC drivers are on a two-year contract, while Malaysian ones are permanent hires, he said, so "the nature of such short contracts and longer-term employment tenures are necessarily different".

He added that PRC drivers are covered for transport, accommodation and utilities amounting to about $275 a month, while Malaysian drivers have to rent a place or return home across the Causeway after work, he said.

Performance-related incentives of $230 for safety and service standards also apply regardless of nationality.

The latest salary adjustment puts the starting pay of PRC drivers at $1,100 a month; that for Malaysian drivers is around $1,400.

Mr Kuek said that "many" PRC drivers earn a gross salary of $1,800 or more after factoring in an average of 60 overtime hours a month.

"We expect all of you to continue to uphold the terms of your contract as these were agreed upon by you, knowingly and willingly," he told the PRC drivers.

SMRT is looking into letting drivers encash their unpaid leave, in response to their concern that they can no longer clock as many overtime hours with a shift to a six-day work week.

Mr Kuek told the drivers that SMRT understood that many of the drivers wanted to earn as much as possible to support their families back home, but said the change had been necessary for the safety of commuters and the drivers' wellbeing.

The issue of pay came up as one of the main reasons for the refusal by 171 PRC drivers to work last Monday. Another 88 continued to stay away the next day.

The drivers were also unhappy about the living conditions in their dormitories, as well as with a perceived lack of response to their concerns by SMRT.

Five drivers have since been charged; another 29 have been repatriated for their role in the illegal strike. One of the drivers charged was sentenced to a six-week jail term yesterday. The remaining drivers can stay on to work, as long as they abide by the laws here, a point Mr Kuek made again yesterday.

He also reiterated that living conditions at the drivers' dorms will be improved, and that SMRT will set up new channels such as a 24-hour helpline and appoint representatives from each dorm unit to address the drivers' concerns.