MOM responds, says SBS Transit drivers can seek help from dispute management office

The Ministry of Manpower has stepped in and said that the five bus drivers who filed a lawsuit against SBS Transit because of an overtime pay dispute can seek help from a dispute management office.

The Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) is one of the tools these bus drivers can use in settling this case, added a spokesperson from the Ministry of Manpower, who said that the ministry is also looking into the matter.

The ministry spokesperson said: “As he (one of the drivers) was a union member from a unionised company, he was assisted by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the National Transport Workers’ Union”.

“As the bus captains have since withdrawn from union membership, they can now consider lodging their claims with TADM for mediation”, the MOM spokesperson said, according to a Straits Times report.

Lawyer M. Ravi of Carson Law Chambers served SBS Transit the writ of summons on Monday.

According to court documents, Mr Chua Qwong Meng, one of the five drivers, was expected to work seven days in a row without a rest day and had clocked more than 44 hours in a week.

He also alleged that he was paid lower than the stipulated overtime pay rate.

The five bus drivers are still driving for SBS transit. /TISG