Singapore will increase salaries and recruitment incentives for bus captains from January 2027 as part of efforts to address manpower shortages and support the continued expansion of its public transport network.
Under the enhanced employment package announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and public transport operators, newly recruited local bus captains will receive an additional S$450 (about RM1,490) in monthly starting pay, alongside an extra S$2,000 (about RM6,640) in sign-on bonuses during their first year of service.
The revised package is expected to raise first-year earnings by around S$600 (RM1,990) per month on average, allowing most new local bus captains to earn more than S$4,000 (RM13,280) monthly.
The move comes as Singapore seeks to sustain improvements made under its Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), which has introduced 33 new or extended routes and upgraded more than 60 existing bus services since July 2024.
According to LTA, demand for bus captains is increasing as transport services expand, particularly in newer residential areas located further from the country’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network.
However, authorities noted that the industry faces growing recruitment and retention challenges. The local bus captain workforce is ageing, while resignations and retirements continue to outpace new hires.
LTA revealed that for every local bus captain recruited, two leave the profession either through resignation or retirement. The proportion of local bus captains in the workforce has also fallen from 54 per cent in 2021 to 41 per cent in 2025.
To encourage more Singaporeans to join the profession, the government will fund the salary and bonus enhancements following consultations with the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) and bus operators.
In addition to boosting starting salaries, transport operators have agreed to implement a one-off salary adjustment for existing bus captains to ensure wage competitiveness and recognise the contributions of current employees.
Operators also pledged to improve working conditions by reducing split-shift schedules and limiting lengthy continuous driving hours, particularly on longer routes.
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the measures are designed to attract more locals into the sector while improving the long-term sustainability of the profession.
He said a larger pool of bus captains would allow operators to offer better shift arrangements and create a more sustainable working environment.
NTWU Executive Secretary Yeo Wan Ling said attracting younger Singaporeans into the industry is becoming increasingly important as the workforce ages.
She added that the union would continue working with government agencies and operators to ensure transport workers receive fair compensation, career development opportunities and long-term job security.
Public transport operators also welcomed the initiative, saying it better reflects the responsibilities carried by bus captains and could encourage more Singaporeans to consider careers in the public transport sector.
The salary revisions will take effect on Jan 1, 2027, as Singapore continues efforts to strengthen its public transport workforce and maintain reliable, safe and efficient bus services across the city-state.
-HR HUB
