“Rīgas satiksme” lacks approximately 60 bus drivers, company manager Gineta Innus admitted to journalists this week.
“Rīgas satiksme” lacks approximately 60 bus drivers, company manager Gineta Innus admitted to journalists this week.
There is also a shortage of trolley bus drivers, but they are trained by the company itself. One group of trainees has already completed their training, while the other is being recruited, explains the representative of “Rīgas satiksme”.
She points out that there is a shortage of bus drivers for various reasons. They go out of business due to competition, drivers age and retire. On the other hand, young people do not come to work as bus drivers.
Currently, the salary of a bus driver is 1,400 euros before tax for a full-time job, excluding additional bonuses.
It has already been reported that “Rīgas satiksme” appealed to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) with a request to make it easier for drivers to obtain the category of bus driver. In order to obtain the D-level vehicle driver category, which allows driving buses, the driver must have already obtained the C-level or truck driver category.
Innusa stated that the company hopes for a change in this regulation, which would significantly facilitate the opportunities to attract new bus drivers.
In 2022, the total turnover of “Rīgas satiksme” was 168.703 million euros, which is 4.7% more than in 2021, but the company’s profit decreased by 58.9% – to 1.25 million euros.
“Rīgas satiksme” provides passenger transportation by buses, trams and trolleybuses in Riga, as well as manages parking lots on the sides of city streets. The sole owner of the company is Riga City Council. “Rīgas satiksmei” owns capital shares in SIA “Rīgas karte” (51%) and SIA “Rīgas acs” (100%).
