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Road Transport Rules to debar under-20 drivers, helpers

Transportation 2023-01-01, 11:08pm

buses-and-trucks-plying-on-the-roads-of-capital-dhaka-9158c5ebe980bfce80e69dbfac238ca31672592895.jpg

Buses and trucks plying on the roads of capital Dhaka.



Jehangir Hussain

To debar recruiting persons below 20 as drivers, conductors or supervisors of buses, minibuses, laguna or other transports, the government has finalised the ‘Road Transport Rules 2022.

The Road Transport and Bridge Ministry drafted  rules under the “Road Transport Act 2018’.

The rules have been designed to stop recruiting children as transport drivers, conductors and supervisors.

Once cleared, the authorities would start enforcing the rules, making it mandatory to take licence to become conductors and supervisors just as the  drivers have to obtain.

According to the provision, regional deputy directors or assistant directors of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) or their representatives will function as licence issuing authorities.

But none below 20 years in age would be eligible to apply for licence.

To get a licence from the BRTA, a conductor would be required to produce academic qualification of having passed at least class five while the supervisors- to produce class eight pass certificates. They would also need to pass the efficiency and  medical  tests  to get licence.

To renew their licences, they have to submit application in prescribed forms 30 days before the  expiry of their licences.

In case of delays, they would need to pay at least 25 per cent extra fee as fines.

With applications,  drivers would be required to produce valid driving licences, driving permits with experience certificates.

Similarly, conductors and supervisors have to produce valid licences issued by BRTA.

Dope test certificate would be mandatory to  recruit drivers, conductors and supervisors.

The drivers, conductors or supervisors must be given appointment letters and identity cards by employers.

The proposed rules would require signing  agreements between employers and employees.

The drivers, conductors or supervisors must be paid wages and other facilities in accordance with  Bangladesh Labour Law 2006.

The working period of driver, conductor or supervisor was set at 48 hours per week and eight hours per day, with one day as weekend. But, working hours per day cannot exceed five hours at a stretch.

To work eight hours per day, there should an  interval of half an hour.

The draft rules stipulate payment of over time for  extra duty.

jehangirh01@gmail.com