Bus commuters here belong to different races and speak different languages and dialects. Many are senior citizens who can manage only Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese or Malay.

And many foreigners here, including tourists and employees, speak only English.

But bus drivers from China speak only Mandarin.

How can they help commuters who ask simple, but important, questions like whether they are on the right bus, where to alight and what is the correct fare? Not everyone goes about with an ez-link card.

If bus operators want Singaporeans to take up the bus captain's job, they should offer more attractive working conditions, rather than resort to the cheap solution.

A 10- to 15-minute break is not sufficient rest time for drivers in between trips.

Having one rest day in a week is also not enough to recuperate, let alone enjoy a balanced life. Even that rest day is not fixed.

Bus captains provide a very important service to the people and deserve better treatment. As we pay our civil servants well, I don't see why bus captains do not deserve similar consideration.

Focus on service and not primarily on cost. It is not as if bus companies are operating at a loss.

Jackie Lau Wai Wan (Ms)