Paris public transport needs thousands of employees ahead of Olympics 2024

Paris: Ahead of the summer Olympics in 2024, the Paris regional transit authority is seeking to hire thousands of employees - 6,600 new staff including 4,900 on long-term contracts - to ensure services are flawless.

The operator is planning to hire 2,700 bus drivers, 400 metro drivers, 700 station agents, 400 maintenance workers, and 120 security guards. Around 35,000 security forces are expected to be deployed for the opening ceremony of the 2023 Summer Olympics.

RATP is a state-owned body that operates the greater Paris transport system including bus, metro, suburban RER rail services, and trams. "This unprecedented recruitment campaign is aimed at meeting demands made on the network and preparing for major events which are the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024," said the organisation.

The RATP in a statement said that it is hoping to boost staff diversity in the recruitment drive and hire more women.

The former prime minister and head of RATP Jean Castex is in charge of improving services after facing strikes, service cancellations, staff shortages, and absenteeism after the Covid-19 pandemic. The initial recruitment target was 4,500. He said RATP services had "deteriorated," reported AFP.

The city is also working to improve infrastructure and build more cycling paths. Visitors will also be able to cycle all the way from the city centre to the 2024 Olympics sports sites on its outskirts. Making the city greener and cleaning up the Seine river enough for swimming are also in the works.

The improvements will also make things smooth for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in September.