Aurélien Fleurot, edited by Laura Laplaud 7:50 a.m., September 28, 2022

The RATP is facing an unprecedented shortage of drivers.

So much so that in September, 25% of the buses remained at the depot.

Valérie Pécresse, who chairs the Île-de-France region, brought together the main operators on Wednesday to find a solution.

But to return to normal traffic, you will have to be patient.

It's a particularly complicated back-to-school season for bus users in Paris and the inner suburbs and it should last a few more weeks.

In September, 25% of buses did not run on the RATP side.

Blame it on a shortage of drivers, between recruitment difficulties and sick leave fraud.

Valérie Pécresse, the president of the Île-de-France region, which also manages Île-de-France Mobilités, brought together the main operators to try to find quick solutions.

If there are tracks, it will still be necessary to wait to find a normal service.

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700 driver positions to be filled at the RATP

The RATP is still looking for several hundred drivers.

Only 800 new hires have been signed against the 1,500 wanted by the Autonomous Paris Transport Authority.

These difficulties are encountered by all operators, but what particularly affects the RATP is the high rate of absenteeism.

"It's almost twice as much compared to 2019," explains Jean-Yves Leclerq, the group's financial director.

“Part of it results from fraudulent acts on which we are in the process of strengthening controls and sanctions, since there are around 130 dismissal procedures which are in progress following fraudulent sick leaves”, he indicates to the microphone from Europe 1.

Valérie Pécresse denounces "massive fraud" 

The president of the Île-de-France region denounced "massive fraud" and announced several measures to encourage, in particular young people, to embark on this profession of the future, according to her.

“We are going to work on guiding both young people and job seekers towards these trades, with a bonus of 2,000 euros for all those who enter these training courses and which will allow them to train in the space of three months," said Valérie Pécresse.

The former presidential candidate also asked the Interior Ministry to speed up the time between obtaining the permit and issuing it.

"Three months is too much," she hammered.

Three months is also the period when the galley will continue for passengers since a return to normal is expected in early 2023.