By Addressing KTC employees on Tuesday, Sawant announced that contractual staff would receive annual salary increments instead of remaining on a fixed salary for seven years. He also said employees would be absorbed into permanent positions after completing their contracts, while offering assurances regarding Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) matters and accident insurance. However, employees at the event insisted that they needed written confirmation from the chief minister before reconsidering the strike.
Sawant Promises Annual Increments and Permanent Jobs
Sawant said the government was willing to address employees’ concerns and outlined changes to the existing contractual employment arrangements.
Under the proposed approach, contractual employees would receive annual salary hikes rather than continuing on the same fixed pay for seven years. The chief minister also said they would be made permanent after completing their contractual terms.
He further gave assurances concerning provident fund-related issues and accident insurance, although the details of these measures were not specified in the announcement.
Despite the assurances, KTC employees said verbal commitments were not enough. They demanded a written assurance from Sawant that their grievances would be resolved, warning that the strike would go ahead if their demands were not addressed.
Transport Minister Appeals to Workers to Maintain Services
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho also appealed to employees to avoid industrial action, stressing that KTC’s primary responsibility was to provide public transport rather than generate profits.
Godinho said the corporation operates both diesel-powered buses and electric vehicles across Goa and continues to work towards improving services. He pointed to the addition of buses on routes serving industrial estates, particularly to help women working late shifts.
He also said KTC had not increased fares despite rising fuel prices and highlighted the comfort of its electric buses as a factor attracting passengers.
The minister urged employees to consider the impact a strike could have on commuters who depend on public transport for work and other daily activities.
Indefinite Strike Announced From November 12
The KTC Drivers and Allied Employees Association has reportedly served a strike notice on the corporation’s management, announcing an indefinite strike beginning at midnight on November 12. The notice follows unresolved grievances and demands that employees say have remained pending for a long time.
The proposed action is expected to involve staff and workmen across the corporation, including electric bus drivers and other employees involved in KTC bus operations.
Among the union’s key demands is the withdrawal of the new electronic ticketing machine system. Employees are also seeking regularisation for drivers and conductors who have completed five years of service, payment of pending Seventh Pay Commission arrears, and restoration of provident fund contributions along with outstanding dues.
Written Assurance Could Be Key to Resolving the Dispute
The latest discussions indicate that the government is attempting to prevent a disruption to public transport by offering changes to contractual employment and assurances on employee benefits. The workers’ insistence on written commitments, however, suggests that confidence in the proposed resolution remains an important issue.
With the strike deadline approaching, the next round of discussions between the government, KTC management and employee representatives will be crucial in determining whether the proposed action can be avoided.
A strike could affect daily commuters across Goa, including workers who rely on KTC buses to reach industrial estates and other workplaces. For now, employees have made clear that written assurances on their outstanding demands will be central to any decision to withdraw the strike notice.
