Singapore court dismisses unfair work practice claims by ex-bus driver

The Singapore High Court today dismissed all claims by a former SBS Transit bus driver who had sued the public transport company for unfair work practices including long working hours and unpaid overtime. 

Chua Qwong Meng, the main plaintiff, had made the claims against the company along with 12 other drivers. 

It is understood that of the 13 drivers, nine were Malaysians.

Chua, who was employed by the transit company from April 2017 to February 2020 at a basic salary rate of S$2,110, had accused SBS Transit of failing to roster one rest day per week for him, citing instances in which he said he had worked for seven or more consecutive days before having a day off. 

He also claimed he was underpaid for overtime work and that there were discrepancies in the calculations of his total working hours. 

But High Court judge Audrey Lim who dismissed Chua's claims said they were without merit and not made out. 

For example, she said, Chua had recorded the start and end times of his working hours each day and the calculation sheets were handed to an industrial relations officer which the officer did not independently verify. 

"But the calculation sheets were inaccurate and unreliable.

"Chua admitted he did not exclude the break times from the number of hours he worked," Lim said.