The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plans to offer early-retirement packages to 5,000 employees over the next three years as e-ticketing replaces the need for bus conductors and other staff.
BMTA director Surachai Eamvachirasakul said on Friday that the state agency planned to let 600 staff go next year, another 2,000 in 2021 and 2,400 more in 2022 because it will be installing cash boxes and card readers for e-tickets on its buses.
The targeted employees are bus conductors and ticket sellers at terminals and depots, he said.
Mr Surachai said the layoffs would save between 1.5 billion and 2 billion baht a year in salary payments.
The BMTA, with a total workforce of 13,599, has an accumulated debt of 118 billion baht.