SINGAPORE: SMRT will not make further adjustments to the salaries of its drivers from China, despite an illegal strike last week over pay and living conditions.
But it will look into the possibility of allowing its drivers to encash their unused leave.
This was the decision communicated to drivers by SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek at a townhall meeting on Monday morning.
Describing what has been a difficult week for everyone in SMRT, Mr Kuek said the management team is surprised and saddened that the situation had reached the point of an illegal strike.
He stressed that the existing compensation and contract terms are fair.
He also said SMRT reviews the salaries of its drivers regularly to keep pace with the market.
This year, it raised the starting pay of those who joined before July by $75, even though there's no contractual obligation to do so for short-term contract workers.
In mid-November, it decided on a second increment of $25 to their basic salary out of goodwill, backdated to July.
This is being communicated to the drivers and will be implemented in December.
Mr Kuek said the full monthly increase in salary from July 2012 would therefore be $100, and this will be implemented as planned.
With these increments, their starting pay is now $1,100.
He stressed that the remuneration package is fair and equitable, including transport, accommodation and utilities amounting to about $275 borne by the company.
Drivers from Malaysia, said Mr Kuek, are not provided accommodation by the company.
With many drivers clocking an average of 60 hours in overtime a month, their gross pay can reach $1,800 or more.
Addressing complaints from some drivers about misrepresentation by agents in China who had hired them, Mr Kuek said SMRT will raise this matter with the relevant agencies to investigate further.
He also urged drivers to use the right and proper channels of communication and feedback to voice their unhappiness.
SMRT, he said, acknowledged that its managers and supervisors down the line could have been more sensitive and responsive to the needs of drivers.
It will address this shortcoming with priority and is strengthening its staff communications and engagement.
Turning to the living conditions of the drivers, Mr Kuek said he visited the drivers' rooms and surroundings recently and agreed with them that things can be improved.
As for bed bugs, the dormitory rooms were fumigated last month and again last week.
Mr Kuek said this appears to be a more persistent problem and SMRT will continue to monitor and act on this.
- CNA/de
SMRT says no further adjustments of pay for China bus drivers
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SMRT says no further adjustments of pay for China bus drivers
