MANILA - The fixed salary scheme for bus drivers and conductors took effect Saturday but a group representing bus drivers and conductors claims some bus operators are non-compliant.

Sandy Hachaso, head convenor of bus drivers and conductors’ group Manibela, said they are collecting evidence that would show these operators’ violations.

“Hindi totoo na naging effective na yan. Hindi naman talaga totoong compliant sa department order ang ginawa nila patuloy na pinairal ang pagkokomisyon. Nagtuloy tuloy lang ang komisyon," Hachaso said.

“Ang mga operator ang nasusunod. Panawagan natin sa operators igalang karapatan ng driver at conductor."

Depending where a bus company operates, either in the city or provinces, some operators pay 9 percent of the daily earnings to bus drivers and 8 percent to conductors.

Under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) order, bus drivers and conductors will be considered as regular employees with provisions on overtime, 13th month pay, and other benefits taking effect.

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DOLE earlier said that the part fixed, part performance based order must be duly complied.

It is stated in Department Order 118-12 or the “Rules and Regulations governing the employment and working conditions of drivers and conductors in the public utility bus transport industry.”

For now, Hachaso said Manibela will continue to monitor developments of the implementation. He urged DOLE to go to bus terminals and offices and check the implementation themselves.

“Hindi organized ang driver at conductor, hindi sila aware sa mga pasikot-sikot dahil walang inilabas na implementing rules and regulations. Napakaluwag nito tinututulan natin ang ibang bahagi. Wala pa sa plano na lumapit sa DOLE," he said.

"DOLE mismo ang dapat lumapit para mag-inspeksyon sila para tiyakin na matupad yung sinasabi nila.”

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has yet to respond on these claims.

MIXED OPINION

Bus drivers and conductors have mixed opinions on the implementation of fixed salary taking effect on Saturday.

The old rules are better than the new ones at least for Rodrigo Aniciete, a bus driver.

“Malaking kawalan. Eh mas mainam po yung percent--porsyentuhan nalang. Malaking epekto sir dahil dati maganda yung kinakita namin. Pagka-ginawang fixed salary, bababa kita namin," he said.

Aniciete appealed for the order to be recalled.

“Eh siguro sir ipapakiusap namin na kung maaari ano na lang, porsyentuhan na lang," he said.

Herman Santos has conditional opinion on the matter.

“Para sa amin eh, mas maganda sana kung yung dati pa rin. Pero pwede rin samin, pwede na rin, kung walang magagawa," he said.

He argues their income will definitely decrease but considers the bonuses a good plus.

“Bababa ang sweldo namin, bababa kase naka-fixed na eh. Eh dito kase kahit na... ang mangyayari niyan kahit hindi kami magsakay ng marami. Okay lang din kasi magkakaroon na kami ng mga bonus," he said.

But he said he still prefers the old scheme.

“Sa amin, yung gusto namin yung dati pa rin kase malaki yung kinikita namin pag-porsyentuhan.”

Ramil Pol, another bus driver, said they had a fixed salary even before the implementation of the DOLE order.

“Di ko masabi kung makaka-ano eh. Pero ngayon, okay naman ang biyahe namin. Wala namang nagbabago sa biyahe namin. Naka-kwan na ho kami sa fixed salary po. Wala namang ano, ganun din naman. May mga privilege din naman na binibigay," he said.

Other bus companies have favorable response to the order. JAC Liner terminal manager Roberto Fernandez said the new order has almost the same effect as the commission-based practice.

“Daily rate nila plus overtime...Umaabot din 15,000. Mas gusto rin ho nila yung sa ngayon dahil may sigurado silang kita kahit walang pasahero. Di na kilangan maghintay ng pasahero... Makipagkarera...Kumpleto ho sa benefits," he said.

DOLE has yet to give updates on their implementation of the new fixed salary order.