Travel firms mull cutting trips

TURNED DOWN: Bus operators asked the minister of labor for a flexible work scheme to allow their employees to work longer than stipulated by law, but were rejected

Staff writer, with CNA





Train and bus operators are recalculating staff schedules and considering reducing services on weekends and holidays starting next month, as a new Ministry of Labor directive is to make it illegal for employees to work more than six days in a row without a day off.

The Directorate-General of Highways (DGH) on Thursday said that to reduce services, bus operators have to do it on the basis of passenger load factor in accordance with a directive, or they could be fined between NT$9,000 and NT$90,000 for violating the Highway Act (公路法).

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) said it is evaluating reducing extra train services on weekends or holidays.

The TRA would take into consideration its service for remote areas when rearranging its schedule, Chou said.

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp said its train operators have been observing the rule of working no more than six days in a row without a day off.

Representatives from 12 bus operators on Thursday met with Minister of Labor Kuo Fong-yu (郭芳煜), hoping their employees would be included in a flexible work scheme over four-week periods.

However, the ministry said flexible work hours could not be applied to those working in the transportation sector, according to the law, adding that it hopes the bus companies would hire more employees instead.

Wu Chung-hsi (吳忠錫), general manager of Kuo-kuang Motor Transport, said bus operators would coordinate with the ministry and might cut services or routes starting next month.

Bus operators might have problems in dealing with long weekends, Wu said.

The four-day weekend in Mid-Autumn Festival is to start on Sept. 15.

If bus operators provide extra services for the holiday, there would be more drivers off duty on that Tuesday or Wednesday, which could result in reduced services on those two days, Wu said.

The DGH said it could help bus operators evaluate their drivers’ work schedules, suggesting they consider hiring long-distance coaches for holidays.

There are not enough bus drivers in Taiwan to meet demand, and the shortage could reach 1,500 drivers, an official from the National Federation of Bus Passenger Transportation said.

However, the DGH said the shortage amounts to more than 900 drivers, according to a registration of bus operators.