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The contractual employees of Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) staged a two-hour strike on Thursday at various bus stands across the state, demanding the regularisation of their jobs and other employment-related benefits.

The protest disrupted bus services, causing inconvenience to commuters as demonstrators blocked the exits of several bus terminals. The strike was organised by the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contract Workers Union in response to what they termed as the Punjab government's continued inaction on their longstanding demands.

Protesters in Tarn Taran and other districts voiced their frustration, stating that their primary demand is the regularisation of their employment, which has remained unaddressed despite repeated assurances from the government. 

 

The protesting workers also raised slogans against the state administration, criticizing its failure to implement promised reforms and warning of a complete strike scheduled for April 7, 8, and 9 if their demands are not met.

Raminder Singh, president of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC Contract Workers Union (Hoshiarpur unit), led the demonstrations in Hoshiarpur, condemning the government for what he described as a failure to honor its commitment. 

He recalled that during a meeting in July last year, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had assured the union representatives that contractual employees would be regularised. However, despite multiple discussions with government officials, no concrete steps were taken, and the recent state budget was presented without addressing their concerns. 

Singh also highlighted that while the government has allocated Rs 450 crore for the free bus travel scheme for women, it has yet to clear outstanding dues owed to employees. Along with seeking job regularisation, the union is demanding a salary hike and an end to the practice of hiring workers through outsourcing, which they argue undermines job security and fair wages.

 

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