Bus Firm Asks Staff To Take Unpaid Leave

Workers at New World First Bus said on Thursday that the company has asked them to take unpaid leave and has withdrawn several financial incentives as part of cost-cutting measures.

The New World First Bus Company Staff Union said the public transport operator has proposed requiring employees to take up to two days of unpaid leave each month.

In a note to members to gauge their views, the union said the franchised bus firm also told staff that a special allowance for working during holidays will be cancelled, and that CityBus drivers will not be getting New Year allowances anymore.

The company is also said to be planning to cut work hours for its staff and will pay hourly wages to those working fewer than eight per day.

Citybus and New World First Bus employ around 5,000 people and operate about 200 routes.

The firms were owned by NWS Holdings, a subsidiary of New World Development Company, until they were sold in August.

A consortium led by a private equity fund, Templewater, bought the firms in a HK$3.2 billion deal.