New scheme of service for SPTC bus drivers soon |03 April 2018

A new scheme of service for SPTC bus drivers is expected to come into effect in July.

The revised scheme was considered and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers  during a meeting President Danny Faure chaired last Wednesday.

Giving details of the new scheme the deputy chief executive of the SPTC Maxwell Julie said it will be carried out in two parts; the first part for drivers in July while the second part for administrative and technical staff will come in force next year.

He pointed out that this is because implementing a new scheme comes with a cost and it is expected that funding will come from a supplementary budget.

Chief among the changes will be an increase in the drivers’ basic salary which will now reflect the demands of the drivers themselves and act as a recruitment tool.

Drivers will also be gaining more in terms of additional benefits as well as increases to certain existing benefits, Mr Julie said.

These include an increment of 10 cents on tickets commission from 30 cents to 40 cents, two full-day pay for each public holiday drivers have to work and R2000 every three months for those who perform well.

An SPTC driver will also be entitled to inducement and location allowances, as well as  overtime and 13th month salary.

According to Mr Julie, once in place the scheme will allow a newly recruited driver to start off with a minimum salary of R10,000.

“Our drivers are not only drivers. When they are on the bus they are managers; they manage the money, they have to communicate well with their customers and ensure that they are safe,” Mr Julie explained.

Mr Julie concluded by reminding SPTC drivers to be more responsible and adhere to their code of conduct.