While domestic transportation companies threaten to go on indefinite strike to prevent the new bus rate to be applied, the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) maintains its position: there is no strike that can stop the new bus fares.
After giving transportation companies the chance to present their arguments, ARESEP decided not to make any changes considering that “there is no a good reason to stop or modify the new model,” as explained by Edward Araya, ARESEP’s consultant.
Before the due date, the entity won’t accept more requests to make modifications, but it would be willing to update the model once implemented.
Eimer Castro, bus drivers’ advisor, explained that according to some calculations, a bus driver’s wage would go from 800,000 colones to 279,000 colones once the new method comes into force. In addition, on several occasions the Drivers National Forum (FNT) declared that the model would mean the immediate dismissal of 6,220 workers, of which 11% would be drivers, 84% mechanics and 26% would be administrative staff.
However, Araya explained that there is no way to know that: the new model needs to be implemented in order to see how it affects the sector.
Public Transport Council (CTP) has only studied 10 companies out of the 376 public transport companies operating in the country. Therefore, ARESEP will begin applying the model only in those 10 companies.
The law establishes that fares must be adjusted at least once a year, but that has never been applied. With this new model, ARESEP plans to update prices every 12 months.