Addressing the employees, Harpreet Singh Grewal—Depot President of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus/PRTC Contract Workers Union (Sangrur)—stated that despite holding 59 meetings with the government over nearly four years, they have received nothing but assurances. He alleged that the department and its employees are being exploited through GST commissions and bribery under the contract system.
He noted that despite the submission of written complaints and evidence, no action has been taken, and the employees’ EPF and ESI contributions are not being deposited. Even though the Chief Minister had opposed the contract system during a cabinet meeting, new contractors are being appointed. The new Transport Minister has also been stalling for the past three months by repeatedly asking for ten-day extensions.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Presidents Ramandeep Singh and Lakhwinder Singh Bittu, along with Assistant Secretary Gurjit Singh, stated that the government is failing to release approximately ₹1,200 crore owed for the free travel scheme and is dragging its feet on regularizing employees. Vice Presidents Parminder Singh Jassar, Gurdeep Singh, and Gurpreet Singh remarked that instead of inducting new buses, the government attempted to garner false praise by flagging off buses under the ‘Kilometer Scheme’.
The leaders warned that if demands—such as regularizing contract employees under service rules, bringing outsourced staff onto regular contracts, implementing ‘equal pay for equal work’, and withdrawing registered cases—are not resolved during the meeting scheduled for September 17, a statewide transport strike (*chakka jam*) will commence on September 22. The management and the Punjab government will be held solely responsible for the consequences.
