SBS Transit Sued By 5 Drivers Over Allegedly Underpaying For Overtime Work

There’s usually a few reasons why people work. The primary reason for most of us is to earn money.

Yes, moolah, kaching or the dough. Call it what you want.

That’s why I’m thankful that Goody Feed always pays on time. Bossman even throws in a bonus or two here and there. *cough*

All that aside, some aren’t quite as lucky and if you happened to click on this article without reading the title (who even does that), here’s the scoop:

Five Bus Drivers Are Suing SBS Transit Over Wage Dispute

Yup, you read that right. According to court documents, the drivers claim that SBS Transit (SBST) paid them below the Ministry of Manpower’s regulated rate for overtime work.

Their working hour records do not match the monthly payslips they received.

One of the drivers, Mr Chua Qwong Meng was asked to work for a week without a single rest day. This meant that he worked more than 44 hours in a week.

That ain’t right. Are they even allowed to work for so many days in a week?

That’s not the worst bit though.

Driver Reported The Matter & Had Meetings To Try To Resolve Issue

The driver allegedly claimed that he wasn’t paid the overtime pay rate. Thus, he complained and reported the matter to Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management and the National Trades Union Congress.

Further meetings with National Transport Workers’ Union and SBST representatives in July and August 2019 didn’t resolve the issue and had “no conclusive answers.”‘

How frustrating.

He also asked SBST for a breakdown of his monthly pay, however, they failed to give it to him within the previously agreed timeframe of two days.

The other four drivers have also made similar claims.

One of the drivers claims that he has worked for SBS Transit for at least 10 years but was underpaid throughout the entire period.

All the drivers are being represented by the same lawyer, M. Ravi of Carson Law Chambers.

SBS Has Spoken

SBST has informed The Straits Times that they’re talking to their lawyers and will defend themselves against these allegations “rigorously.”

SBST will have eight days to file a notice in court that it’ll defend itself against the claims made by the five drivers.