Singapore bus company recruited 80 PRC drivers from Chengdu in 2010
Posted by temasektimes on April 5, 2012
According to a Sichuan newspaper, an unknown “big” Singapore bus company recruited about 80 bus drivers from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, China in 2010.
They were offered annual salaries ranging between RMB90,000 and RMB120,000 (approximately $1,562 – $2,082 monthly taking S$1 = RMB4.80)
The applicants must have a Chinese class “A” driver licence and three years of driving experience of public transport in China.
A PRC bus driver earns between RMB2,000 – RMB4,000 depending on the provinces and cities they work in.
On top of the attractive wages, they were also given free lodging, transport allowances and medical insurance coverage.
The driving direction is different in China – the steering wheel is located on the left-hand side of vehicles instead of the right in Singapore which means the traffic flows in opposite directions.
Furthermore, it is much easier to obtain a China driving licence than a Singapore one. Corruption is rampant in China and often a few hundred dollars of “tea money” or “茶水费” will sufficient to help struggling candidates pass their driving test.
In the light of the recent tragic accident caused by a PRC driver, transport companies in Singapore should seriously review their hiring policies.
THE TEMASEK TIMES 
spotlessleopard said
Transport Companies will continue to HIRE dangerous and inesperienced drivers from China as long as the GOVERNMENT ALLOW THEM TO DO SO…..Sigaporeans find it SO DIFFICULT to get a Class 3 or class 4 licence but so called QUALIFIED CHINESE DRIVERS ARE DRIVING 40FOOTER CONTAIENRS ……HOW DID THESE PEOPLE GET the licence to drive CONTAINERS IN SINGAPORE?
The Political Leaderrs in Ssingapore MUST STOP APPROVING the EMPLOYING OF DANGEROUS UNSAFE COMMERCIAL DRIVERS FROM COUNTRIES that issue such “equivalent” licences like giving away cookies.
CKMPD said
The fault lies with the pap. The pap allows these foreigners to come in. Is there any QC to check their skills and qualifications? Is there any background checks to ascertain that they are not criminals, hooligans nor gangsters?
The pap allows questionable foreigners to come to work in SG.
Bad news for SG and Singaporeans. More crimes, more accidents by these 3rd work unqualified, unskilled, cheap labour?
Ray said
why is the PAP regime giving away so many Work Permits to these PRC bus drivers?
Are these “talents” not available in SG?
None of the singaporeans want to drive bus? You sure?
Is it another case of depressing the minimum wage and ensure the salary is not viable to support a family and use the lack of locals as an excuse to hire cheaper, more dangerous PRC drivers?
When will this end? I thought the govt is supposed to limit foreigner influx? How many more must be killed by these drivers before the govt and state-related bus companies wake up?