Kochi: 90 per cent of empanelled staff report for duty

Kochi: Following KSRTC’s (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) decision to ‘unofficially’ take back empanelled staff, a majority of the 3861 temporary employees dismissed as per a High Court order three months back reported back at respective depots.

“Nearly 90 per cent of such staff reported back till Wednesday, the time given for them to report back. We’re consolidating the reports send by respective depot heads in this regard. They will be deployed for duty on leave vacancies from next week onwards,” sources said.

The corporation dismissed 3, 861 empanelled conductors as per the High Court order in January. Following this the temporary employees staged protests before the secretariat for weeks and finally withdrew from the strike after the government assured action to take them back. “We can’t take them back directly since it will amount to violation of court order. Hence the empanelled staff will be deployed on leave vacancies on a daily basis. They will be paid `480 for a single duty at the end of their duty hours every day,” the sources said.

The initiative will be a win-win situation for both parties as currently nearly 1000 services are getting cancelled daily due to crew shortage, especially conductors. Though it sent appointment advice memos to nearly 4000 PSC candidates, only 1200 reported for duty.

Majority of them lost their only means of livelihood and many could not get permanent employment through PSC due to age restrictions. Of the 3,861 dismissed conductors, 1,561 have completed 10 -year service.