Bus drivers demand more support facilities near bus stops

A survey released by the Macao Federation of Transportation (AGERTM) indicated that local bus drivers are in serious need of an increase in the infrastructure available to them along their daily routes around the city, including more bathrooms and air conditioners at bus stations.
A total of 252 industrial employees were interviewed, consisting of 207 drivers, 38 station heads, and seven cleaning staff. Out of the total interviewees, 249 are full-time workers and 185 of them are aged 40 or under.
48 respondents, representing 24 percent of the total number of interviewees, requested more bathrooms, which are among the most demanded facilities in comparison to others.
“The drivers have to hold [until they can find a bathroom], it is bad for their health if [this happens] frequently,” said Tong Chak Sam, chairman of AGERTM. Tong also suggested that the government should create more  recognizable signs at some main bus terminals, such as at the Praça de Ferreira do Amaral, where tourists consistently approach bus drivers and station heads asking about these kinds of facilities.
“The government should establish an information center in order to answer the tourists’ questions,” Tong added, saying that bus drivers answer various questions from the tourists, such as where certain place are or where to go.
44 employees informed about the need for air conditioners, mainly at bus stations, followed by 33 interviewees asking for facilities providing tap water. 26 workers hope to see more facilities allowing them to rest.
Ninety four percent of the interviewees (237) have been given only half an hour for a meal break. 104 of the surveyed bring meals from home, 62 always eat out at restaurants, 53 had a mixture of the two, and 21 went home.
The infrastructure in bus stations has been under discussion in the industry for a long time, and had been forwarded to the responsible departments a significant amount of time ago.
Regarding the government reaction towards these issues, in the words of lawmaker Lei Cheong I, who is also the vice president of AGERTM, “the government might have neglected the issues all of this time.”
AGERTM says it will forward the survey to the government for their reference.