Contractual employees protest for regularisation

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 7

Accusing the state government of ignoring their demands, members of the Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC Contract Workers Union Punjab staged a protest at Amar Shaheed Sukhdev Inter-state Bus Terminal here on Friday.

Union members said the Transport Minister had earlier assured them that contractual employees would be regularised soon but nothing had been done till date. Even Cabinet meetings were held multiple times since he gave this assurance, they added.

They further said their other demands, including a hike in salaries of data entry operators had not been fulfilled. Union leaders Shamsher Singh, Jagtar Singh and others said they had gone on strike for nine days last month. When on strike they were assrued that their demands would be fulfilled soon, but to no avail, leaders added.

Union members Gurpreet Singh, Gurwinder Singh and others alleged that a bribe of Rs1.5 lakh was being accepted to recruit employees on an outsourcing basis. The protesting members demanded from the government to curb corrupt practices and stop recruitments in an ‘illegal’ manner.

Members said if their demands were not met, they would be forced to intensify their agitation from January 10 onwards.