Over 6,000 retired transport workers await benefits

As many as 6,221 retired workers of the eight State Transport Undertakings (STUs) are awaiting settlement of terminal benefits since May 2019, in accordance with commerce unions. The lockdown, which introduced bus operations to a grinding halt within the State, and the restricted operations thereafter, didn’t simply result in a drastic fall in revenues, however dampened the hopes of retired workers and kin of those that died in service (after April final yr) of getting provident fund, gratuity and commutation and go away encashment.

According to commerce unions, non-settlement of retirement benefits has remained a problem within the transport sector since 2013. However, the dues have been settled by the State authorities, intermittently, following protests by workers’ unions. Besides working losses, union leaders say the rationale why terminal benefits aren’t disbursed to retiring workers is as a result of the PF deducted from salaries will not be credited to STU’s PF belief.

The variety of retired workers who died or fell sick rose through the pandemic. Many who deliberate marriages within the household, development of homes and different investments too needed to undergo.

“This is a service sector, where the motto is to serve and not make profits. While other departments like education, health, food and electricity also provide services at subsidised rates, the State allocates sufficient funds to compensate the losses. We are operating at a loss of ₹12 per km — accumulating to ₹12 crore a day — but there is no budgetary allocation to compensate this loss,” stated K. Arumuga Nainar, State office-bearer of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU).

Rural join

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations additionally function buses to the agricultural pockets, benefiting farmers, college students and day by day wagers. “We may not be making profits. But the network benefits people at the grassroots, contributing to the overall economic growth of the State. A budgetary provision, compensating the subsidies/social obligations, is the only option to overcome the continuing losses,” Mr. Nainar stated.

According to S. Sampath, joint secretary, Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporation Staff Federation, there have been no retirements after May, because the State elevated the age of retirement from 58 to 59. Though the Transport Department was higher positioned to settle terminal benefits, the pandemic got here as a blow to bus operation and income era.

“I retired in May 2019, and was expecting a total settlement of ₹35 lakh. But not a single rupee has been paid…all my post-retirement plans stand deferred, indefinitely, since there is no clarity on when the PF, gratuity and other benefits will be settled,” Mr. Sampath stated.

The State’s transport system is among the many largest within the nation, with over 1.26 lakh workers, together with one lakh drivers and conductors, and a fleet of 20,944 buses, transporting about 1.64 crore folks, every single day. The Transport Department wants ₹1,624 crore to settle the retirement benefits of the 6,221 workers.