One driver said newcomers may not be prepared to face the gruelling realities of the job, such as long work hours and split shifts. SINGAPORE: Higher starting pay could attract people to join the public bus industry, but retaining them will remain an uphill task, several bus captains told CNA. This is because better wages and bonuses alone are unlikely to convince newcomers to stay on beyond a year and build lasting careers in the industry, as the job involves early start times, long hours