Recruitment of Bus Drivers for the Bus Services Enhancement Programme

Mr Teo Siong Seng asked the Minister for Transport whether the public transport operators intend to recruit bus drivers locally or from foreign sources for the 450 buses that will be added to the existing bus fleet under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme.

The Minister for Transport (Mr Lui Tuck Yew): Mdm Speaker, as is the case for the initial 550 buses under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), the Public Transport Operators (PTOs) will hire both local and foreign drivers for the 450 buses under the expanded BSEP that Mr Teo has asked about. However, they prioritise the recruitment of local bus drivers, through a Place-and-Train programme and progressive wage structures, amongst other measures.