The National Federation of Passenger Bus Transportation Operators yesterday said it was making changes to bus schedules for next month, adding that it might have to cut its transport service by 20 percent to comply with changes in labor policy.
Following a meeting with more than 40 public transport companies from across the nation, federation president Lee Po-wen (李博文) said that while bus operators welcomed the implementation of fixed days off for workers, the cancelation of flexible days off would make it difficult to maintain current bus schedules.
With the government’s adoption of a “work six days, take one day off” (作六休一) policy, companies may be fined by the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications if they fail to comply with regulations, Lee said.
Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
As it is, the companies do not have enough workers given the year-round nature of public transportation service, Lee said.
While the labor ministry has suggested that companies hire more people to comply with the policy, the companies are already short by 1,500 to 1,700 drivers nationwide, he said.
Bus companies are willing to hire new drivers who hold a valid license, but few young people are willing to take on the job, Lee said.
The bus operators would seek to comply with the regulations, which take effect on Monday, and are arranging for buses to run on the maximum headway time.
If there are not enough drivers, companies will apply for cancelation of inefficient routes, Lee said.
Lee added that the companies would not be able to provide surge buses during extended holidays due to the “work six days, take one day off” policy.
He said the federation has made its decision and it is up to individual companies to comply.
Bus companies had taken the initiative in providing extra bus services during long holidays, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, but they will not be able to do so this year with the new labor regulations.
“We are asking for the two ministries to hold talks over the issue, and at the very least fall back to the flexible scheduling that was used before,” he said.
Lee said bus companies are sorry that they cannot provide public transport during holidays because “we must abide by the law.”
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