SMRT drivers appeal for return to 5-day work week

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A small group of bus drivers want to go back to their five-day work week and still be able to keep their recently increased salaries.

They wrote an appeal letter to labour chief Lim Swee Say, claiming that their company's move to a six-day work week in May had eroded the wage increase introduced in the same month, reported The Straits Times.

They argued that while monthly pay had risen, their daily pay fell as they have to work more days each month.

In the letter of appeal addressed to Mr Lim Swee Say, drivers said that while the salary hike was a welcomed move, they also argued that the move to have a day added to their working week was "a vital misunderstanding and lack of consideration".

"The increase in wages at the gross monthly level is not enjoyed at the gross daily level because of the increase of the work week by an extra one day", the appeal letter states.

SMRT, however, said on Wednesday that the bus drivers' basic working hours remain unchanged at 44 hours a week - this means, shorter hours each day.

In its reponse, the transport operator said the comparison was "not quite appropriate" as their employees are monthly salaried workers and not hired based on basic daily wage. It added that monthly and hourly rates have increased.