Roadways staff protest hiring via agencies

Contractual employees of the Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC organised gate rallies outside bus stands in different parts of Ropar on Tuesday.

Protesters alleged that despite repeated assurances over the past three years, the AAP government had failed to implement a separate policy for contractual workers. Meetings only delayed the issue, with no concrete decision so far. The agencies through which contractual employees have been hired have looted lakhs from workers under the guise of security deposits, alleged Dayal Mahi, general secretary of the contract workers union. That was done with the backing of officials from the State Transport Directorate, he alleged.

The union warned if their demands were not met, they would gherao the State Transport Director’s office on June 30 and expose corruption in the department. They alleged that despite the formation of committees on February 9, 2024, and again on July 1, 2024, no action had been taken so far.

Sukharaj Singh, another union leader, said although the Advocate General and the Finance Minister of Punjab held meetings with the union and directed the termination of outsourcing and absorption of workers on direct contracts within 15 days, the directive remained unimplemented.

Union leaders Ankush Nota and Manjeet Singh Rana said complaints of illegal hiring under the outsourcing system and bribe being paid for hiring were submitted to the Principal Secretary in December 2022. No action had been taken against accused officials or contractors, they added.

The union warned if their demands were not fulfilled, they would observe a complete transport strike from July 9 to 11, followed by an indefinite dharna outside the Chief Minister’s residence.