In-Service Bus Captains Will Also Benefit from Salary Adjustments and
Further Measures to Improve Working Conditions
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the bus operators have been expanding and improving bus services through the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme (BCEP), especially in newer estates located further away from MRT stations. Since its launch in July 2024, connectivity has been enhanced with 33 new/ extended bus routes and improvements to over 60 existing services.
2. To deliver these enhancements and sustain these essential public bus services, we require a strong pipeline of bus captains. However, we recognise that bus captains have a challenging job, with shift work being the norm, and the pressures of ferrying passengers safely and punctually through busy roads. It is therefore challenging to attract and retain new bus captains. At the same time, our bus captain workforce is ageing. For every local bus captain recruited, two are leaving the industry due to resignation or retirement. The proportion of local bus captains has declined from 54% in 2021 to 41% in 2025.
3. To attract more local bus captains, the Government, in consultation with the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) and bus operators, will fund an increase in starting salaries of new local bus captains by $450 per month, and the first year of sign-on bonuses by $2,000, from January 2027. With higher starting salaries and higher sign-on bonuses, most local bus captains can earn $600 more per month in their first year of service, effectively increasing the average monthly salaries to more than $4,000.[1]
4. To manage wage relativity, improve retention and recognise the contributions of in-service bus captains, the bus operators have also collectively agreed with the NTWU to make a one-time adjustment to the salaries of all in-service bus captains. As we grow recruitment, operators will also continue to improve the attractiveness and safety of the bus captain role, such as by reducing split-shift assignments (where bus captains drive only the morning and evening peak with an unpaid period in between), and shortening continuous driving time on long bus routes.
5. These salary adjustments were made following tripartite discussions between LTA, the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) and public transport operators, and will take effect from 1 Jan 2027. Please refer to Annex A for attributable quotes from Acting Minister for Transport Mr Jeffrey Siow, NTWU Executive Secretary Ms Yeo Wan Ling and public transport operators.
6. We thank all bus captains for their service and dedication to running smooth, safe, and reliable journeys, and playing an integral role in Singapore’s public transport system. We remain committed to ensuring good working conditions for bus captains and opportunities to have meaningful careers.
Annex A: Attributable quotes from Acting Minister for Transport Mr Jeffrey Siow, NTWU Executive Secretary Ms Yeo Wan Ling and public transport operators
