Average Working Hours of Public Transport Drivers

Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the average working hours for our public transport bus drivers and MRT train drivers compared to other major cities; and (b) whether there are guidelines on the maximum allowable duty and driving hours for these drivers.

Our public transport bus drivers work an average of eight to nine hours daily, including overtime, over a six-day work week, which comes up to around 50 hours or slightly more a week. MRT train drivers work an average of 130 hours over a 21-day period, which averages around 44 hours a week, with overtime work typically arranged under exigencies of service. I understand that bus drivers in the United Kingdom work an average of nine to 10 hours daily5 while bus drivers in Australia work an average of 12 hours daily, including overtime6.

Our Public Transport Operators (PTOs) must adhere to the requirements under the Employment Act when scheduling duties for their bus and train drivers. For instance, the Act stipulates that the normal hours of work shall not exceed 44 hours per week. Employees must also not work for more than 12 hours a day, including overtime, with a limit of 72 hours of overtime in a month.

To ensure that our drivers have sufficient rest, regular breaks are scheduled in their duty rosters. For example, SBS Transit plans its bus driver rosters such that bus drivers do not work more than 12 hours per day, and no more than 72 hours of overtime per month. SMRT rosters its train drivers so that they do not drive a train for more than four hours without a break.