Patiala: Contractual and outsourced workers of Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC held rallies at bus depots across the state on Tuesday, announcing an indefinite strike from Nov 16 over delays in regularisation.Punjab Roadways Punbus/PRTC Contract Workers Union (25/11) also threatened to lay siege to the residences of chief minister and transport minister if its demands were not met. It accused Punjab govt of deceit and bureaucratic delays despite holding 65 to 70 meetings over workers who had served the department for 12 years.Its demands include direct departmental contracts for outsourced employees under the Act, regularisation of Punbus contractual employees with 11 years of service under PRTC rules, withdrawal of FIRs and police cases filed during earlier protests, and clearance of departmental cases during police verification.Addressing workers at Patiala depot, union state president Harkesh Kumar Vicky, along with Sahajpal Singh, Jasdeep Singh and Sultan Singh, alleged offer letters presented by chief minister to PRTC employees on Oct 26 were like “empty papers”.“Not a single employee has been brought onto the direct department contract yet. The govt promised to eradicate the contractor system, but by introducing new conditions requiring three to five years of outsourced service, their true intention has been exposed,” Vicky said.Union leaders alleged a nexus between transport officials and private contractors. They claimed the personnel and finance departments had cleared files three times, including after adjustments for Punjab Roadways’ financial losses, and transport minister had approved service rules, but cabinet approval remained pending.They also accused officials of disregarding transport secretary’s directions and delaying implementation of Act No. 10 of Aug 14, 2026, which provides for bringing outsourced employees directly under department contracts.The union said transport minister and personnel department had assured it at an Oct 29 meeting that the issue would be resolved within two days and rules approved at the Oct 31 cabinet meeting.
