Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTC) employees of annual salary increments, permanent absorption after completing their contracts, EPFO benefits and accident insurance, in an effort to prevent an indefinite strike planned from November 12.
Sawant urged KTC staff to withdraw the proposed action and said the government would consider their grievances. He made the assurances during an event attended by KTC employees, who responded that they needed a written commitment from the chief minister before deciding whether to proceed with the strike.
“The salary of contractual staff would usually be a fixed salary for seven years. Henceforth, we will implement annual increments so that they get salary hikes every year. In addition, after they complete their contract, we will absorb them as permanent staffers,” Sawant said.
The assurances also covered provident fund-related benefits through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and accident insurance. The announcement addresses several concerns raised by KTC workers, although the employees said verbal assurances would not be sufficient to settle the dispute.
The KTC Drivers and Allied Employees Association had served a strike notice on KTC management, announcing an indefinite strike from midnight on November 12 over unresolved grievances and long-pending demands. The proposed action covers all staff and workmen involved in KTCL bus operations, including electric bus drivers and allied employees.
The association’s demands include scrapping the new electronic ticketing machine system, regularising drivers and conductors with five years of service, clearing pending Seventh Pay Commission arrears, and restoring provident fund contributions and arrears. The dispute therefore involves both employment conditions and the operation of the corporation’s ticketing and payroll systems.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho also asked KTC employees to avoid a strike and said the corporation’s primary responsibility was public service rather than profit generation. “We have a fleet of diesel buses and EVs operating across Goa. This is not a profit-making organisation. We are here to provide service, and our endeavour is to continuously enhance services,” he said.
Godinho said KTC had added buses on routes serving industrial estates, particularly for women working late shifts. He also said fares had not been increased despite rising fuel prices and described the corporation’s electric buses as comfortable. KTC currently operates both diesel buses and electric vehicles across Goa, making the proposed action relevant to commuters using different parts of the public transport network.
The strike notice follows an earlier report on October 17 about the employees’ association’s pending demands. The immediate next step is for the government and KTC management to provide the written assurances sought by staff before November 12, when the proposed indefinite strike is scheduled to begin.
