Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh : Punjab Government Grants Historic Salary Increase to PRTC Employees for Their Empowerment
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, with the concerted efforts of Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and PRTC Chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana, the salaries of 1,148 employees who have been continuously employed for over a year have been increased by ₹2,500, along with an additional 10% hike.
In a meeting between the PRTC Contract Workers Union, led by Chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana, and Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, several senior officials were present, including Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) D.K. Tiwari, MD Bikramjit Singh Shergill, and GM Maninderjit Singh Sidhu. During the meeting, Bhullar emphasized the government’s commitment to employee welfare, stating, “A nation progresses when its citizens are happy.” He highlighted the Punjab government’s dedication to improving employees’ quality of life through innovative measures. The salary hike proposal was presented and unanimously approved during the Board of Directors meeting, with directives issued to seven departments.
The government also agreed to draft a policy for regularizing employees under service rules, with the file set to be reviewed by the Advocate General of Punjab. A follow-up meeting with senior officials and unions is planned to finalize the policy.
Minister Laljit Singh noted that key demands of contract employees, including salary uniformity, had been discussed in an earlier meeting at the Chief Minister’s office in Chandigarh. The government committed to addressing these issues, including adding new buses to the fleet, regularizing contract workers, reinstating employees from waiting lists to active duty, and increasing commissions for advance bookings.
Chairman Ranjodh Singh Hadana highlighted that PRTC had increased drivers’ wages by ₹2,500 and provided an additional 30% hike for other employees based on Punjab Roadways standards. Employees hired after September 15, 2021, who were previously paid minimum wages, will now receive this increment if they have been continuously employed for over a year. The wage increase is prospective, with no arrears to be paid.
Key members of the PRTC Azad Union, including State General Secretary Manjinder Kumar Babbu Sharma, Patron Gurdhyan Singh Bhanra, Gurpal Singh Sangrur, and Khushwinder Singh Budhla, also participated in the meeting.