• Source:JND
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Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation (PRTC) launched a three-day strike on Monday, demanding regularisation of their jobs and a salary hike. The strike disrupted public transportation, leaving commuters stranded at various bus stands across Punjab as about 2,800 buses remained off the roads.

The protest involves around 8,000 contractual workers, with demonstrations staged at all 27 bus depots statewide, according to Resham Singh Gill, president of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, PRTC Contract Workers' Union. The employees claim the state government has ignored their longstanding demands, forcing them to take drastic measures.

Union vice-president Harkesh Singh Vicky said contractual workers face exploitation due to unequal pay and job insecurity. "Our demands are straightforward: regularize contractual drivers and conductors to ensure fair treatment and eliminate pay disparity with regular staff. Additionally, the Transport Department must stop outsourcing bus operations to contractors and invest in new buses," Vicky said.

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Currently, drivers and conductors fall into two salary categories. While one group earns Rs 18,000 per month, another group receives Rs 13,000 and Rs 12,000 for drivers and conductors, respectively, highlighting the disparity, he said.

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A meeting between union representatives and Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar last week failed to resolve the issues, further aggravating tensions. The protesters have vowed to intensify their agitation by marching toward Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence on Tuesday if their demands remain unmet.