Punbus, Roadways workers stage protest, demand insurance cover

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 5

Workers under the Punbus/ Punjab Roadways Contractual Workers Union on Tuesday staged a protest against the state government to provide them health insurance cover amid Covid-19 duties. The activists of the union held protests at several places in the district. They burnt the effigies of Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.

General secretary of the union, Jasbir Singhb said: “As the roadways workers have been roped in to perform coronavirous duties, no health insurance or benefits are provided to them. “Around 12 contractual drivers are deployed at Civil Hospital to operate government ambulances in the city and several others have been deployed to bring back the stranded passengers from Kota, Hazur Sahib and Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra. Despite serving as front line workers no arrangements have been put in place for the roadways workers,” added Jasbir.

He said: “On return from Hazur Sahib, 23 Punbus workers were tested positive for the virus in the state. Besides, Baljit Singh, vice- president, activists of the Punjab Roadways Workers Union said, the drivers and conductors, who had been quarantined alleged that no proper treatment was given to them at the quarantine wards.”

Therefore the workers demanded that they should be provided 50 lakh insurance cover like other frontline workers, regularisation of jobs and all safety kits, including gloves, masks and PPE kits for all workers deployed on Covid-19 duty.