A labour union representing KMB bus drivers is demanding a pay rise of 8 percent this year and has proposed more than ten measures to improve working conditions.

The Motor Transport Workers General Union KMB branch met the company management on Wednesday for their first round of pay talks at the Kowloon Bay bus depot.

The union said the 8-percent pay rise proposal was agreed by a majority of its 5,600 members. Its spokesman, Lai Siu-chung, said 38 percent of members saw their monthly wages go down by at least HK$4,000 during the pandemic.

Lai said many bus captains were unable to make ends meet during Covid, as passenger numbers dropped substantially.

"As far as I know several hundred colleagues have quit after receiving their annual bonus earlier this year... because merely relying on taking home a basic salary is very hard to put food on table," Lai said.

He said one-third of a bus captain’s salary came from overtime shifts, and without that it would be very difficult to stay afloat.

The union proposed to equalise overtime pay to stabilise the monthly income of drivers and add an extra rest day each month.

In response to the union's proposals, KMB and Long Win Bus said they have a long-standing mechanism on pay adjustment.

They noted that they will make reference to their operation and financial strength, pay trend of the government and other public utilities firms, and general social situation and inflation.

They said they’ll maintain communications with staff members and look forward to reaching a consensus.
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Last updated: 2023-05-17 HKT 17:42