雙語社評齊齊聽

[英語 (足本收聽)]

[普通話 (足本收聽)]

THE DEADLY BUS ACCIDENT at Tai Po was followed by a swift shift of the focus of attention. At first people pointed the finger at the part-time bus driver. Then they began to focus on bus drivers' low rates of remuneration. The KMB has recently announced a new package of remuneration and overtime pay. But it is highly questionable whether the new measure will attract new blood and ease the strain on manpower.

[ENG audio 1]

As the Tai Po accident involved a part-time driver, the KMB earlier announced that it would stop assigning shifts to part-time drivers so as not to cause passengers anxiety. Trade unions, however, focus on remuneration, arguing that drivers earn too low a salary. To make ends meet, many drivers have had no choice but to work overtime, which causes excessive fatigue and endangers passengers. The KMB has thus decided to change the formula for calculating remuneration. The "safety bonus" and "service bonus", which were awarded to full-time drivers in accordance with performance, will become part of drivers' basic salaries. As a result, drivers on a monthly income will see their initial salaries rise nearly 30 per cent to $15,365. Their overtime pay will also increase by 35 per cent.

[ENG audio 2]

People working as drivers in Hong Kong have a median salary of $16,404, while a full-time KMB driver has an initial salary of just $11,810. To attract new blood and improve the remuneration of drivers currently on the payroll, the KMB should adjust their salaries. The problem is that the new measures proposed by the KMB are just "a numbers game" that will not improve drivers' remuneration significantly.

[ENG audio 3]

Since the bus accident at Tai Po, there have been views that the accident happened because bus companies have been employing more and more part-time drivers. No doubt the issue of part-time drivers has to be given proper regard. However, it is not fair to make a sweeping statement. According to the KMB, 70 per cent of part-time drivers are former full-time drivers who have recently retired. Though over 60 years of age, they are as seasoned as they are old and have a lot of experience. Their sense of professional responsibility is comparable to that of full-time drivers. The true problem reflected by the Tai Po bus accident is the failure of bus company managements, some passengers and even some part-time drivers to treat the profession of bus-driving seriously.

[ENG audio 4]

It goes without saying that the lack of respect for bus-driving has to a certain extent to do with social prejudices. Some people use salary as the only yardstick by which to evaluate the professions of others. They have never treated bus drivers as people serving citizens professionally. In recent years, there have been cases from time to time in which netizens posted footage depicting arguments between passengers and drivers on the internet. While it is not easy to determine who was right and who was wrong, some passengers' disrespect for bus drivers and their use of uncalled-for verbal abuses and sarcastic comments are evident. After the Tai Po accident, some passengers said that the bus driver involved was blamed by some spiteful passengers for delays. Bus drivers must stay calm in all circumstances. They must not forget to drive carefully just because they are angry or have a rush of blood to their heads. That said, some people's lack of respect for bus drivers should also be corrected.

[ENG audio 5]

巴士服務須臻專業 車長加薪並未根治

大埔奪命巴士車禍，社會關注焦點變化甚速，由最初將矛頭指向兼職車長，變成車長薪津待遇欠佳。近日九巴宣布，實施新的車長薪酬及超時「補水」計算方案，然而是否足以吸引新人入行、紓緩人手壓力，仍屬一大疑問。

[PTH audio 1]

由於大埔車禍涉事車長是兼職司機，九巴早前宣布暫停向兼職車長「派更」，以免市民不安，至於工會則將討論焦點放在薪酬待遇，認為車長薪津太低，很多車長為了幫補生計，不得不超時工作，容易過度疲勞，危及乘客安全。九巴為此決定，改變車長薪酬計算方法，全職車長過往按表現發放的「安全獎」及「服務獎」，將直接撥入底薪，令月薪車長的起薪點增加近三成，增至15,365元；月薪車長因加班而獲發的超時「補水」，金額亦會增加三成半。

[PTH audio 2]

本港職業司機工資中位數為16,404港元，九巴全職車長起薪僅為11,810元。九巴為了吸引新人入行，以及改善現職車長待遇，都應該調整薪酬，問題是九巴提出的新方案，某程度只是「數字遊戲」，並未顯著改善車長待遇。

[PTH audio 3]

大埔巴士車禍後，有意見認為，事故成因是巴士公司聘請愈來愈多兼職車長。無可否認，兼職車長問題需要正視，可是一竹篙打一船人亦不公道。根據九巴資料，兼職車長七成是退休不久的前度全職車長，儘管年逾六旬，惟老而彌堅，兼且經驗老到，專業責任感不遜全職車長。大埔巴士車禍反映的真正問題，是巴士公司管理層、部分乘客乃至個別兼職車長本身，都未有認真看待巴士車長專業。

[PTH audio 4]

當然，巴士車長專業未獲應有尊重，某程度亦與社會成見有關，部分人只以薪酬高低看待他人職業，從來沒有將巴士車長視為一種服務市民的專業。近年不時有網民將乘客與車長爭執的片段放上網，雖然誰是誰非未必能夠輕易斷言，然而部分乘客不尊重巴士車長，無理辱罵、冷嘲熱諷不一而足，也是證據確鑿。大埔巴士車禍後，有乘客表示，事發前涉案車長因為延誤問題，遭乘客埋怨，言辭充滿敵意。巴士車長必須時刻保持冷靜，不能因為一時氣上心頭，頭腦發熱忘記小心駕駛，可是部分人對待巴士車長，顯然也欠缺了基本的尊重，心態需要糾正。

[PTH audio 5]

明報社評2018.02.23

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Ms CHAN, Zoe Ka-ling

Lecturer

時惠文

講師

【Bilingual Editorial】