Attractive basic wages and a job redesign to remove non-driving work such as refuelling and cleaning of buses – those are just some of the benefits that Tower Transit’s Bus Captains will enjoy when Singapore’s third bus operator hits the road in mid-2016.

Tower Transit and the National Transport Workers Union (NTWU) announced these terms today at a signing ceremony of the employment package offered to Tower Transit’s bargainable employees. Signed by Tower Transit CEO Adam Leishman and NTWU Executive Secretary Ong Chin Ang, the agreement was built on the common objectives of better wages, skills and career development, professionalising the bus industry and enhancing the working environment for all.

The employment package has been designed and benchmarked to be attractive to a wide pool of potential employees that are currently working in Singapore’s transport, logistics, retail, services and manufacturing sectors. Key highlights of the package include:

• Attractive Pay – Tower Transit will offer Singaporean Bus Captains a starting basic wage of S$1,865 per month, plus additional payments based on performance and safe driving. Working 10 hours overtime per week, a starting Bus Captain can earn up to S$3,000 per month (excluding Employer CPF contributions). Starting May 2016, all employees will also enjoy wage increments that are based on overall wage increases in Singapore, ensuring that Tower Transit’s wages are consistent with salary trends.

• Professional job scopes – Tower Transit believes that Bus Captains are professional drivers. Therefore, Tower Transit Bus Captains will not be required to conduct duties such as refuelling, cleaning and parking of buses at the end of each day. This will allow our Bus Captains to focus on their expertise of driving and ensure no additional load is added to their shifts.

• Career progression opportunities – Tower Transit’s career progression will be based on skills development and performance, not just length of service, giving all employees the opportunity to upskill and progress in their careers. Tower Transit will offer sponsorship forWSQ courses and potentially up to diploma and degree courses.

• Attractive Benefits – Tower Transit will offer its employees free travel on all Singapore public MRT and Buses. Market leading flexible medical benefits allow Tower Transit employees to customise their medical and healthcare benefits to suit their own personal and family needs.

• Family Friendly Leave Entitlements – Tower Transit will offer 26 weeks of paid maternity leave to all female Singaporean employees. Further, Tower Family Care Leave offers sick childcare of up to five days per child below six years old, and eldercare leave of two days per annum to care for parents or elderly relatives.

The new employment terms were developed by Tower Transit in close consultation with NTWU. Feedback and opinions were sought from the nearly 500 Affected Employees that joined in the recent briefing sessions, and feedback was also received from nearly 400 other people that have expressed interest in working for Tower Transit. Their inputs had a major influence on the final employment package.

“We have worked very closely with our colleagues at NTWU. We’ve met hundreds of bus captains in person in the recent weeks and, one by one, answered their questions and listened to their suggestions on creating a fulfilling career with us. We’ve even listened to comments left on our Facebook page by other bus captains and conversations on Twitter amongst commuters,” said Mr Leishman.

“The early feedback we’ve received is that the package we’ve tailored for our Bus Captains is compelling and competitive. It recognises and values experienced bus captains, and creates opportunities for new ones,” said Mr Leishman.

The next phase of recruitment will begin immediately and will focus on candidates who have expressed interest in joining Tower Transit via its website www.towertransit.sg. The company continues to welcome applications from interested parties.