VietNamNet Bridge – Dozens of bus drivers in HCM City are refusing to work if the Government doesn’t re-subsidize petrol prices.

Nguyen Huu Nhan, Chairman of the Rang Dong Cooperative, said 25 buses are sitting idle because drivers refuse to work, saying they can’t afford gas.

Phung Dang Hai, Chairman of the HCM City Union of Transportation Cooperatives, said that on March 13, nearly 30 bus drivers refused to work. Since the petrol price rose on February 26, at six cooperative members, dozens of drivers have refused to work.

“If the city doesn’t institute a gas subsidy policy, many drivers will continue refusing to work,” Hai added. Hai confirmed that if the situation continues, HCM City will face its largest ever bus driver strike.

HCM City currently has 3,200 buses, over 40% of which belong to transportation cooperatives. Transportation cooperatives have their feet against the fire because if local authorities don’t impose a gas subsidy policy, member drivers are suffering losses of VND400,000-VND500,000/bus..

The HCM City Union of Transportation Cooperatives has proposed the city’s assistance, to which the city advised them to control the situation.

According to the Public Transportation Management Center, a new price table for bus services has been submitted to the HCM City People’s Committee.

(Source: VNE)