IN FOCUS: They get curious seems to be and are referred to as ‘uncle’, however younger bus drivers say the job has developed

Mr Naz stated the “key takeaway” of working with older, long-time drivers at SMRT was seeing how the trade has progressed since years again.

“Bus drivers have been being paid beneath ‘minimal wage’ again then, and understanding how instances have modified for the higher for many of us, it positively reveals that the trade has come a great distance,” he stated.

“There are lots of extra alternatives {that a} bus captain can do, and it is not simply a regular blue-collar job as what has been described by many.”

Public transport operator Tower Transit stated it has seen a 64 per cent enhance within the variety of bus drivers beneath 30 years previous becoming a member of the corporate because the first quarter of this yr, though solely barely over 2 per cent of its drivers fall on this age bracket.

“The problem is that individuals don’t usually aspire to turn out to be a bus captain till they begin driving and realise that it may be a satisfying profession, that they’re revered and that there are profession development alternatives,” stated Mr Winston Toh, managing director of Tower Transit Singapore.

Mr Toh, highlighting a notion that every one drivers do is drive, stated the job has developed right into a “multi-faceted position” that includes interacting with lots of of individuals each day.

“It’s as a lot a customer support job as a driving one, and since highway circumstances and human interactions are so dynamic, no two days are the identical,” he added.

“A lot of our youthful bus captains get pleasure from that dynamism and some have even moved into supervisory and managerial roles.”

CAREER PROGRESSION

Mrs Wu of SBS Transit stated the operator has launched a progressive wage mannequin and profession development paths for its bus captains. For example, “good performers” could be promoted to senior bus captains after which chief bus captains.

Drivers may also go for a administration monitor with non-driving roles, which embrace government and managerial roles in bus interchange and depot operations and administration, bus operations management centres and coaching.

“Lately, we’ve got additionally launched new work schemes akin to part-time and five-day work week to make it extra enticing for job candidates to think about becoming a member of the occupation,” she stated.