Bus operators, drivers comply with DOLE’s order on wages

CEBU, Philippines - Majority of the bus companies operating in Cebu have already complied with the Department of Labor and Employment’s order mandating the fix wages and giving of social benefits among its drivers and conductors.

Julieto Flores, spokesperson of Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, told The Freeman yesterday that around 100 bus drivers have also undergone training yesterday before the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-7 to get an NC (Competency) III certificate.

Department Order 118-12 requires bus drivers to get a competency certificate from TESDA before a bus company is given a certificate of compliance by DOLE.

Such certificate is also a mandatory requirement for bus companies to have their respective franchises renewed by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board.

DO 118-12 (Rules and Regulations governing the employment and working conditions of drivers and conductors in the public utility bus transport industry) 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.

These benefits includes wages for all actual work during the normal work hours, 12 regular holidays with pay, rest day, overtime pay, night shift pay, 13th month pay, service incentive leave pay, paternity leave pay, parental leave pay for solo parents, paid leave of ten days for victims of violence against women and their children and retirement pay.

DOLE 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 practices were causing more road accidents.——(FREEMAN)