Ajit Karn
Paris: The Paris Regional Transit Agency said on Monday that it was looking to hire hundreds of people to boost services in time for the summer Olympics in 2024 and the upcoming Rugby World Cup this year.
State-owned RATP, which runs the greater Paris transportation network, including the metro, suburban RER train services, trams, and buses, announced it wanted to hire 6,600 additional employees, 4,900 of whom would have long-term contracts.
The Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 are two significant upcoming events, according to RATP. “This unprecedented recruiting push is aimed at addressing demands put on the network and preparing for major impending events,” the agency said in a statement.
The operator plans to employ 2,700 bus drivers, 400 metro drivers, 700 station agents, 400 maintenance personnel, and 120 security personnel throughout the course of this year.
At the end of the previous year, Jean Castex, a former prime minister, was selected to lead RATP with the goal of enhancing the organization’s services, which had been hampered by strikes, service interruptions, employee shortages, and absenteeism as the nation escaped under Covid-19 limitations.
Castex originally stated that 4,500 new hires were needed this year to assist improve RATP’s services, which he claimed had “deteriorated.”
In its recruiting campaign, the RATP stated that it intended to increase workforce diversity, in part by employing more women.
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics would feature Olympians sailing down the Seine River in 200 boats in front of 600,000 spectators, according to the grandiose plans of the French city.
During the opening ceremony, 35,000 security personnel will be deployed, and organisers have also been instructed to engage a further 3,000 private security personnel.
As part of Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s major programme, the city is also aiming to upgrade its infrastructure, which includes constructing new bike lanes.
Visitors to Paris will be able to pedal all the way to the 2024 Olympic sports venues located on the outskirts of the city, authorities said this month.
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The bike lanes, known as “Olympilanes” by the city, according to Hidalgo, will leave a wonderful legacy for the area.
Moreover, city hall is working nonstop to green Paris and make the River swimmable.
In the opening match of the Rugby World Cup in September, hosts France will play New Zealand.
