By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — DOLE’s 2025 inspection shows just 18 out of 75 bus companies in NCR complied with general labor standards.
The audit covers requirements under Department Order 118-12, which mandates fixed salaries, SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG coverage, holiday pay, overtime, 13th month pay, and other benefits for drivers and conductors.
DOLE links violations to road risks. Surveys show purely commission-based pay and long hours push drivers toward unsafe behavior.
D.O. 118-12 replaced that with a two-tier system: fixed wage + performance pay.
Labor Standards Compliance Certificates are required before LTFRB can renew bus franchises.
THEN VS NOW
2014 NCR: 78 bus firms with LSCCs, covering 3,927 drivers and 3,632 conductors.
2025 NCR: 18 compliant firms out of 75 inspected.
DOLE logged 90% general labor standards compliance across 80,915 establishments in 2022.
Bus firms must give drivers and conductors: minimum wage, rest days, night differential, service incentive leave, maternity/paternity leave, and SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG enrollment.
DOLE vowed stricter monitoring of the 57 non-compliant operators.
LTFRB also flagged 25 bus firms in April for substandard terminals and 8 for illegal fare hikes to Bicol.
Non-compliant firms risk losing LSCCs, which blocks franchise renewal.
DOLE urges drivers denied benefits to file complaints for inspection.
DOLE says compliance aims to “ensure passenger safety” by improving driver welfare.
ia/xf
