Strike keeps metrobus off track

Drivers demand bonus, certificates from outgoing contractor

LAHORE:

Metrobus drivers continued their strike in the provincial capital on Tuesday, causing problems for the citizens due to the suspension of the transport service.

The drivers vowed not to end the strike until their demands for bonus, gratuity and experience certificates were accepted.

However, the company operating the service refused to accept the demands and termed them illegal.

The drivers continued their protest sit-in at the Gajjumata Metrobus Depot for the second day in protest against denial to them of bonus, gratuity and experience certificates, resulting in suspension of the service in the provincial capital.

Densely populated areas and industrial zones of the city are located along the 27km track of metrobus. It is the largest mode of public transport in the provincial capital, carrying more than 100,000 people daily.

Therefore, the suspension of the service caused severe difficulties to the commuters.

Many people returned disappointed from the metrobus stations.

They were forced to use expensive transport, including rickshaws and taxis, due to the unavailability of metrobus.

The drivers at the protest site said they had been working with Punjab Mass Transit Authority contractor Al-Bayrak for years.

"The company's contract with the authority is now coming to an end, due to which we have demanded bonus, gratuity and experience certificates. Many days have passed but the company has not accepted our demands, so we have gone on strike and will keep the metrobus service suspended until our demands are met," a protesting driver said.

However, Punjab Mass Transit Authority officials contended that the company was paying salary to the drivers on time and their demands were illegal. They alleged that the drivers wanted to put pressure on the company's officials.

According to sources, officials of the company and police held talks with the drivers during the past two days but they were not ready to back down from their demands.

Punjab Transport Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza told The Express Tribune that the metrobus drivers were employees of the sub-contractor of Punjab Mass Transit Authority.

"The company's contract with the authority has expired but we are managing the service through a short extension," he said.

He said the drivers were demanding gratuity, bonus and experience certificates from the contractor.

"We have asked the company to resolve this issue as soon as possible. We are aware of the problems faced by the citizens and, therefore, we are constantly in touch with the company to resolve this issue at the earliest."

The provincial secretary said the company had been asked to persuade the drivers to run the buses.

Replying to a question, the official said the new contractor had brought some fresh buses, while more yet to arrive. He said the new contractor needed time to get its buses on the route. At present, the same contractor has to run the buses.

Murtaza said work was underway on several transport projects in Punjab, including one of the electric buses that was likely to start this year. He expressed hope that the scheme would reduce the problems of public transport in the provincial capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2021.