Two-thirds of Latvia's bus drivers are at pre-retirement or retirement age, directly impacting route fulfillment and public transport reliability. State-contracted wages no longer match market rates, causing experienced drivers to leave and making recruitment of young specialists nearly impossible.
Latvia's bus driver crisis deepens as two-thirds near retirement age
Regional public transport service disruptions affect commuters unable to access scheduled bus routes, with 3,250 trips canceled during a September 16 protest.