Indonesian and Filipino drivers will soon be seen in Budapest

From November, Indonesian and Filipino bus drivers will be working in Budapest. A temporary employment agency is recruiting and hiring drivers in groups for Hungary.

Foreign bus drivers in Hungary

At last week’s meeting of the Budapest Transport Company (BKV), it was announced that employees will be trained for the new ArrivaBus Kft. In addition to drivers, English-speaking drivers’ assistants will also be recruited. A third of Budapest’s buses, around 450 vehicles, are operated by ArrivaBus Kft, telex.hu reports.

“The shortage of drivers has become commonplace in public transport in the capital. It is an integral part of our strategy to expand our own driver pool by any means possible, so as part of our recruitment campaign we are also looking into the possibility of hiring foreign workers,” ArrivaBus writes.

According to the service provider, foreign workers are also employed in other countries. In Hungary, too, 5% of the workforce is made up of foreigners. “After the Hungarian government identified the driver profession as a shortage occupation, it gave ArrivaBus the opportunity to examine and prepare the possibility of employing third-country workers,” ArrivaBus added.

Unanswered questions

There are several issues that can arise when foreign workers arrive. One is whether the drivers will obtain a driving licence here or whether they will naturalise their existing licence.

Another question is how bus drivers will communicate with traffic controllers and passengers. Especially in the case of front-door boarding jitneys.

In Budapest, there are nearly 2,300 drivers, but there is still a significant shortage of labour. The 180 new vehicles put into service last year only add to this. On average, 100-150 drivers are missing from the system. BKV’s attempts to lure workers with high salaries have not worked, and the company’s room for manoeuvre is hampered by a constant shortage of funds, Népszava reports.