Controversy on hiring retiree-turned bus drivers continues

Finland has seen heated debate on the hiring of retirees as bus drivers after a deadly crash of a bus with a 67-year-old driver, who is not a company staffer, last week.

Four people were killed and six others were injured in the accident took place in Kuopio on August 24.

The driver initially claimed the brakes had failed, but passengers said the man had been driving recklessly prior to the crash. Investigating officials have not commented on his condition or health condition so far, but faulty brakes have been excluded.

The use of retiree-turned drivers is especially common on charter assignments. Industry sources told a Finnish language newspaper Keskisuomalainen that retirees often accept less pay than the union rate. "Actually a retired driver is just happy to get away from home and to the road," a driver named "Pertti" told the paper.

A salaried driver would have to be paid a daily allowance and extras for evening and night hours, but retired drivers are not. Retired drivers are commonly used for charter trips to Lapland or Estonia that take several days.

The official retirement age for drivers is 68, but there is currently no age limit for driving as a non-staffer. Drivers over 68 must undergo an extensive health check every two years though.

Until 2010 Finnish law set 70 years of age as a limit to driving a bus, but the restriction was taken off the legislation in 2014. Harri Pasanen, vice chairman of the automotive and transport workers union said the union did not like the abrogation of the overall age limit.