KSRTC to increase wages of temporary staff; duty system likely to change

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will increase the wages of temporary employees, including those working under KSRTC-SWIFT. The duty system for employees doing double shifts is also likely to be changed.

Temporary employees currently receive Rs 715 for a daily duty. Transport Minister C.P. John will ask the KSRTC management to submit a report on increasing the remuneration for employees doing one-and-a-half and double duties.

The shortage of employees in the driver and conductor categories is the main reason temporary staff are required to work additional duties. The management has not taken steps to fill around 1,000 vacancies. The low wages have also resulted in fewer applicants. Employees who work a double duty lasting 16 hours sometimes undertake another double duty the following day without getting adequate rest. They are often compelled to do so because of the shortage of staff and also to earn additional income. Employees assigned to night shunting duty are also sometimes deployed on daytime routes, which has often led to accidents.

Temporary employees face neglect

Temporary employees do not have the rights or benefits available to permanent employees. While permanent employees were provided with two pairs of new uniforms, temporary employees were asked to continue wearing their old uniforms.
SWIFT employees have a separate uniform. Different approaches are also reportedly being followed towards temporary employees in the Badli category and those working under SWIFT.
While SWIFT employees receive Rs 130 per hour for additional work, temporary employees are often not paid for the additional hours they work. Their monthly wages are also paid in two instalments.