Lantau Bus Firm Admits It Has More Part-timers

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2018-06-19 HKT 13:30

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  The New Lantau Bus Company says it now makes an effort to find out how much rest their part-time drivers get before they start work. Image: Shutterstock

The New Lantau Bus Company told an inquiry into the city's bus operations that a quarter of its fleet are driven by part-timers, a ratio higher than other bus firms.

The commission was appointed after a fatal accident in Tai Po that left 19 people dead in February. The driver of the KMB bus was a part-time employee and the policies and working conditions of such drivers became the focus of attention over the following days.

New Lantau Bus Company director James Wong told the probe panel that the firm is now making it part of the requirements to record the hours of work part-timers do elsewhere and how much rest they get before they start driving for the company.

Wong also said that these drivers are also subject to the same spot checks as full-time drivers, who are monitored without their knowledge while at work.