Bus companies violate DOLE order

CEBU, Philippines - Majority of the bus companies operating in Cebu have not complied with the order of the Department of Labor and Employment mandating fix wages and giving of social benefits to drivers and conductors.

“So far, usa pa ang ni comply out of more than ten bus companies operating in Cebu,” said Julieto Flores, spokesperson of Cebu Provincial Bus Operators.

Flores said that a one-stop-shop with representatives from the Social Security Service (SSS), Pag-ibig and Philhealth was supposed to be put up on August 6, this year in Carcar City but this was cancelled.

“Didto pa daw sila sa Bacolod City unya ilaha lang daw mi pahibaw-on kanus-a. So far, wala pa mi nila pahibaw-a,” Flores told The Freeman yesterday.

Flores said that bus operators are willing to comply  with DOLE’s order which took effect on July 1, last year.

The order provides for fixed wages and performance-based compensation schemes, occupational safety and health, social security benefits, and other labor rights for bus drivers, conductors, and other bus transport workers.

Their benefits also include 12 regular holidays with pay, rest day of 24 consecutive hours for every six consecutive working days, overtime pay, night shift pay, paid service incentive leave of five days for every year of service, 13th month pay, paid paternity leave of seven days, paid parental leave of seven days for solo parents, paid leave of ten days for victims of violence against women and their children and retirement pay upon reaching the age of sixty or more.

Aside from this, Section 4 of the order also stated that drivers and conductors shall enjoy security of tenure in their employment as provided by law.

Their employment can only be terminated for just or authorized causes pursuant to the provisions of the Labor Code, as amended.

Flores said that currently, bus companies have different policy in giving compensation to their drivers and conductors.

Some bus companies give minimum wage plus meal allowance and commission which is dependent on the day’s gross income.

The labor department had earlier said that drivers need to have fixed salaries as the latter were racing against time to make more round trips and earn bigger commissions, and such practice were causing more road accidents.  (FREEMAN)