A major tragedy occurred on May 1 when a bus rammed into four vehicles near a tollway of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), killing 10 people. The Department of Transportation immediately suspended the company Solid North, which owns the bus, and ordered an inspection of its buses. However, beyond the possibility of defective buses, discussions should also focus on bus drivers’ working conditions that lead to such accidents.

Initial reports said the bus driver possibly fell asleep while driving, causing him to fail to brake in time. According to the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD), this highlights the excessive workload and lack of sufficient rest for many drivers.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the abusive working conditions our bus drivers suffer,” IOHSAD executive director Nadia De Leon said. “The ‘unli working hours’ practice not only risks the lives of drivers but also greatly endangers public safety.”

The term “unli working hours” (unlimited) refers to making drivers work excessively long hours without enough rest. Often, this is encouraged by giving commissions based on earnings. This arrangement not only endangers drivers, but it also violates basic labor rights and the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Standards Law.

De Leon emphasized that road safety begins with safe working conditions, and that it is not only individual drivers who are held accountable but, more importantly, the companies and systems that maintain this dangerous arrangement.

In the wake of the tragedy, IOHSAD cooperated with Bayan Muna to call for an independent investigation into Solid North Bus Company, which is part of the JAC Liner group. The organization is demanding that the findings be made public and that those responsible for the systematic neglect of the welfare of drivers and the public be held accountable.

The tragedy on SCTEX is not an isolated incident. The road crash data in the Philippines clearly shows unsafe working conditions and the weak enforcement of labor standards in transportation. Until this root cause is resolved, similar tragedies will continue to occur.