Kerala - Kochi
'Bus owners denying wage hike to workers'

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Private Bus Thozhilali Federation (AITUC) has accused bus owners of misleading the public and bus workers on the fare wage practice of the bus workers.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, federation general secretary Joy Joseph alleged that bus owners were trying to deny the increase in wages promised to the employees following the agitation held this month.

According to the agreement arrived at the conciliation meeting convened by the District Labour Officer in the presence of the District Collector on April 2, the employees in each bus with three workers would get a total hike of Rs.115.

This would result in the driver and conductor getting a raise of Rs.40 each per day, with the door checker/second conductor getting a wage hike of Rs.35 per day.

The agreement had specified that in the case of buses with more than three employees, the owner would have to pay increased wages according to the posts of the employees, Mr. Joseph pointed out.

The new wage structure was to have come into effect from April 5.
(The Hindu - 13/04/06)