On Tuesday, May 25, the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Workers’ Union demanded all drivers who ply buses for the transport body on wet-lease should be paid COVID allowance of INR 300 per day and INR 50 lakhs financial aid to families in case of death.
According to sources, these privileges are given to current drivers employed full time with the enterprise.
While pressing its demands, Shashank Sharad Rao, who is the head of Sangharsh Kaamgar Karmachari Union and BEST Workers' Union, said these drivers are additionally risking lives to ferry important staff and different commuters. So, why ought to they be disadvantaged of the Covid insurance coverage and particular allowances?
He also stated that the BEST administration has not paid INR 300 Covid allowance to their own employees since June-end to December 2020 that comes to INR 60 crores.
Also Read: 106 BEST employees die due to COVID-19
The BEST is operating 1,243 buses on wet lease and nearly 2,500 drivers are operating them.
The drivers of wet lease buses have already gone on sudden protest, twice over the past few weeks, over issues on payment of salaries by their private employers, non-receipt of regular wages and overwork.
Meanwhile, the BEST committee members claim that the BEST administration had stated in their budget that they will procure buses and maintain the owned fleet at 3,337 buses.
Also Read: BEST to cut down its fleet by 1,000 buses
Share
Tweet
