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Chandigarh, October 16

Following assurances from Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar to address legitimate demands, the Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC Contract Workers’ Union has withdrawn its strike call scheduled from October 21.  During a meeting with union representatives at Punjab Civil Secretariat-2, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar categorically said, “Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is committed to timely resolution of employee issues. Thus, the Chief Minister has formed a special departmental committee to address the concerns of contract-based drivers and conductors in Punjab Roadways/PUNBUS and PRTC.” Several demands have been agreed upon in recent committee meetings, noted the Cabinet Minister.

The Transport Minister assured union representatives that the next meeting on October 22 would yield meaningful results, instructing department officials to adopt a sympathetic approach towards employees issues and ensure they bring concrete proposals to the next meeting. The  Minister  Bhullar said that the Mann government has initiated an intensive process to regularize contract-based employees, which will alleviate many of their difficulties. He said that it is the government’s primary duty to secure the future of employees and their families.

Addressing complaints of irregularities by service provider agency contractors, the Transport Minister sternly warned them to ensure contract-based employees receive salaries and allowances as per regulations. He directed officials to promptly schedule a meeting with the contractors.

Laljit Singh Bhullar also announced that new buses would soon be added to the government fleet. He directed officials to prepare proposals immediately and initiate further action. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Transport Secretary D.K. Tiwari, PUNBUS MD Rajiv Kumar Gupta, PRTC MD Bikramjit Singh Shergill, PUNBUS ADO Rajiv Dutta, PRTC GM Maninder Singh and other officials.

During a separate meeting with representatives of the Punjab Roadways (PUNBUS) State Transport Workers Union, Bhullar affirmed that the special committee of the Transport Department, constituted by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to address employee demands, will empathetically consider their issues during its upcoming meeting on October 22. This committee was specifically formed to examine and evaluate the concerns raised by the workforce, he added.