A woman bus driver has ended up with an infection after using the drivers’ toilets at a park-and-ride centre – which are not the only ones in a filthy condition.
When contacted, she said treatment had cost her €12.75 daily as well as three days of unpaid sick leave.
Speaking on behalf of female bus drivers, her friend Chantelle Cuschieri said on the Facebook page The Salott, that the women had reported the dirty state of the toilets at Marsa and Pembroke a “million times”.
She urged those responsible to treat the issue urgently, as the drivers were even contracting infections.
The situation was the worst in Marsa, as at times there was no water, while in Floriana, although the toilet was kept clean, it stank of urine as the floor was made of wood, the driver said.
At times, drivers had no other option but to look elsewhere to relieve themselves, she added.
Meanwhile, if they stopped for a bite during their break at the University of Malta exchange, the only shelter they had was a room that was, however, always locked. The drivers had to sit down on the pavement rain or shine, not far off from cat carcasses, she complained.
The women had reported the dirty state of the toilets a million times
These complaints are the latest in a series by bus drivers, who uploaded photos of the dirty toilets at Pembroke and Marsa on Facebook. The General Workers Union has also raised concerns about the state of the toilets.
When contacted, the secretary of the union’s transport sector, Sandro Vella, said the toilet infrastructure was not adequate for the staff and the GWU had informed the operator about the Marsa and Pembroke park-and-ride toilets.
However, the situation was getting worse – even syringes had been found in the bathroom at Marsa, as anyone could use the unlocked toilets, he said.
Mr Vella urged the operator to engage a cleaner and security or watchman. The union has also raised concerns about the room at the university exchange.
Questions sent to Malta Public Transport remained unanswered by the time this newspaper went to publication.