Punjab Roadways and PRTC Staff Stage Protest Over Unpaid Salaries and Privatization Push in Jalandhar
Contractual workers from Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) organized a significant protest at the Jalandhar depot on Monday, marking the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh. The demonstration highlighted growing discontent among employees over delayed salaries and government efforts to privatize bus services.
Key Issues Raised by the Union
The protest, led by the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contract Workers Union, centered on several critical grievances. Unpaid wages for January and February have left workers struggling to meet basic household expenses, with accusations of apathy from both government and management. Additionally, the union condemned the push for privatization, particularly through the kilometre bus scheme, which they argue is causing substantial financial losses to the department.
Balwinder Singh Rath, chairman of the union leaders, stated, "Employees who opposed the kilometre bus scheme were falsely implicated and jailed to suppress dissent. We have repeatedly shown that this scheme, allowing private operators on government routes for fixed charges, is loss-making, yet tenders favor select players, leading to crores in losses."
Broader Concerns and Allegations
Beyond salary delays, the union accused the government of reneging on promises to end the contractual system. They noted that no employees have been regularized, while exploitation under contractors persists. Key allegations include:
- Contractors failing to deposit EPF and ESI contributions on time.
- Arbitrary deductions from workers' salaries.
- Siphoning off crores of rupees belonging to employees without any action taken.
These issues have compounded the financial strain on workers, exacerbating the immediate crisis of unpaid salaries.
Future Plans and Agitation
In response to the unresolved demands, the union has announced plans to escalate their protest. If salaries are not released immediately, they will stage a demonstration outside the PRTC head office on March 25. Furthermore, a statewide meeting is scheduled for March 30 to decide on the next course of action, potentially leading to more widespread strikes and disruptions.
The protest underscores a broader statewide stir, with workers across Punjab expressing similar frustrations over labor rights and privatization policies. The situation remains tense as the deadline for salary payments approaches, with union leaders vowing to intensify their agitation until their demands are met.
