The APVRTC Employees Union on Friday claimed that Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) hired 6,270 contract employees, citing financial crisis due to COVID-19 lockdown.
It said that the management through oral orders told the contract workers not to report for duties. Depot managers were directed to use only the services of outsourcing employees. The corporation has 52,000 regular employees.
Also Read: Concessions and Extension across the country from 18 May, The Green Zone will fully Open
The employees union has appealed to Transport Minister Perni Nani to reconsider the order of retrenchment of contracted employees. Union leaders said that the central government has issued clear instructions that there should be no restriction in government or private organizations during the lockout.
There are 6,270 contract workers in APSRTC’s main offices, regional managers, bus depots, workshops and hospitals offices in Vijayawada. Most of them are sweepers, attendants and grade-4 employees.
“We were demanding that 7,800 regular vacancies be filled to reduce the workload on existing employees. The management took the drastic decision to remove the contract employees, ”Central Secretary General of Employees P.W. Damodar Rao said.
