PUBLIC BUS SERVICE
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
A Transport Ministry-backed plan to shed almost 3,800 employees from the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) payroll could face stiff union opposition. The ministry says in addition having old, decrepit buses, the BMTA is overstaffed and its workers are inefficient, problems the bus agency needs to tackle to escape from rising debts.
The changes must be made in tandem with moves to rid BMTA of red tape, which plagues management's decision-making process, the ministry says.
''The restructuring aims to boost competitiveness,'' said Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri.
The average age of BMTA's 17,920 workers is 50.
Some workers are not qualified for their jobs, but BMTA is not totally at fault, he said. Workers were transferred from private bus companies after the BMTA was established as the public bus service provider in 1976. In 1983, the agency started giving route concessions to private firms to improve service.
BMTA's 3,535 vehicles now account for roughly a quarter of all public buses, vans, mini-buses and the like servicing the capital. Its fleet includes about 1,670 ordinary and 1,860 air-conditioned buses.
Worse, the BMTA was forced to defer a plan to recruit new workers after a cabinet resolution in May 1995 to freeze agency hiring, meaning officials with the skill and expertise to improve the organisation could not be hired, the deputy minister said.
As well, the BMTA's latest operating report, issued in July, details the agency's high payroll, which accounts for 32% of its total budget.
Under a plan, which has not been approved by the government, the agency would be divided into regulating and operating divisions.
The plans calls for 3,377 employees to be axed.
If 6,000 new, air-conditioned buses are given a green light by the cabinet, targeted staff will undoubtedly include conductors, mechanics, supervisors and inspectors.
Ticket collectors will also be dispensable because ticket vending machines will replace them. The machines would be installed at bus stops so passengers can buy electronic tickets before boarding.
Maintaining the new, leased buses would be taken care of by the leasing firm whose bid was selected. Electronic tickets also make inspectors unnecessary because the ticket machines would record the number of tickets sold.
''Using conductors adds more cost and makes [BMTA] prone to corruption,'' the deputy minister said.
The BMTA has in the past been plagued with counterfeit bus tickets which cost the agency considerable revenue.
The downsizing would not be done cruelly, Mr Songsak said. Staff would be encouraged to accept early-retirement packages, for which the Finance Ministry has set aside 6.2 billion baht.
Not all conductors, mechanics, inspectors and supervisors would be given their marching orders, he added. Some would be transferred to new duties. Also, many drivers, controllers and managers would be kept on.
But the BMTA union's deputy leader Veerapong Wongwaen warns any attempt to cut staff will meet protests.
''The early retirement scheme must be voluntary, because it will not only affect workers but also their families,'' he said.
Any official being transferred also must be given a clear, detailed description of the new job, Mr Veerapong added.
The union also opposes a plan to end ordinary bus service, which could affect 9,000 staff from conductors to inspectors.
''The BMTA is not ready for that,'' he said.
If the agency kept ordinary buses in service, it could save 4,000 jobs and the rest could be transferred to other positions, Mr Veerapong added.
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