Bar on becoming bus conductor below 20

Staff Reporter :
The Road, Transport and Highway Division have finalised the ‘Road Transport Act, 2022’ keeping a bar on becoming a conductor or supervisor of any vehicle, including bus and Laguna, below the age of 20.
Sources said that such provision has been included in the act in a bid to refrain the children from the transport sector as it was seen in the past that the children are used for such hazardous jobs which sometimes causes fatalities.
In a bid to become a conductor or supervisor, the Deputy Director (Engineering) or Assistant Director (Engineering) or approved authority of the concerned department of the licence issuing authority would issue the
licence for this purpose, the Act said. The Roads and Highway Division have finalised the amendment following the power entrusted by the Road Transport Act, 2018, sources said on Sunday.
To become a supervisor, the person must have a minimum certificate of Eighth Grade or Junior School Certificate or equivalent.
On the other hand, anyone who wants to be a conductor must have a certificate of Fifth Grade or equivalent. Besides, they have to pass the skill tests for the purpose.
The licences for the conductor or supervisor must be renewed prior to 30 days before the expiry date. If a licence is not renewed before its expiry, the person has to provide additional fee of 25 per cent of the main fee.
The Act further read that the dope test is mandatory before the employment of driver, conductor or supervisor.
The employer must provide the salary and other financial benefits to the driver, conductor or supervisor following the Bangladesh Labour Law, 2006.
About the working hours of the driver, conductor or supervisor, the Act also mentioned that it would be no more than eight hours per day, equivalent to 48 hours per week.