Road Transport Authority asks Hyderabad High Court 3 months for labour norms

Hyderabad: The Road Transport Authority has asked the High Court for three months to implement its directions on enforcing labour laws in the private transport sector. An official said the RTA was ready to implement the directives by holding special drives but was holding back till January — when the vehicles come for registration — to avoid inconveniencing motorists on highways and a last-minute rush after announcing deadlines. RTA data shows that the state has two lakh private transporters who run three lakh vehicles including trucks and buses. Only 1,247 have registered their staff with the labour department.

Joint transport commissioner (IT & Vigilance) C. Ramesh said that Section 3 of the Motor Transport Vehicles Act and Rule 4 of Telangana State Motor Transport Vehicles Rules emphasised registrations of firms and labour. “All the private transport vehicles have to come to the RTA for the renewal of permits. We can insist that private transporters register with the labour department. We will renew their permits after they submit labour registration certificates. The registration of private transport companies with labour department will help the workers, drivers, cleaners and staff by providing them insurance, ESI and mediclaim cover.