In an effort to end nearly a month-long agitation by the employees of the State run Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), State Transport Minister Anil Parab on Wednesday announced hefty hikes in the employees’ basic salaries ranging from Rs 2,500 per month to Rs 7,000 per month, pending a decision on inclusion of the MSRTC employees in its state government's payt rolls.
After holding day-long discussions with the leaders of the agitating MSRTC employee, Parab made a formal announcement about the hikes in the basic salaries of the agitating employees.
Talking to media persons after holding talks with the representatives of agitating MSRTC employees, Parab said: “The hikes announced in the basic salaries of employees works out to nearly 41 per cent which is the highest-ever salary increase in the history of the MSRTC employees. The high-level committee is expected to give its reports within 12 weeks”.
“As far as the inclusion of the MSRTC employees in the state government’s employment roll, we will accept whatever the Bombay High Court suggests in the matter. If the HC-appointed three-member high-level committee recommends the inclusion of the MSRTC employees in the rolls of state government, we will do so,” Parab said.
The Minister appealed to the striking employees to resume work by 8 am on Thursday.
As per the decision to effect hikes in the basis salaries of the MSRTC employees, the employees with one to 10 years’ experience will get a monthly hike of Rs 5,000 hike in their basic salaries.
For instance, those who have hither-to been getting a basic salary of Rs 12,080 will now get Rs 17,395 per month. Similarly, those with a basic salary of Rs 17,070 will now get a basic salary of Rs 24,584 per month.
In the case of employees with an experience ranging from 10 to 20 years, there will be Rs 4,000 increase in the basic salaries.
As a consequence, their basic salaries will go up from Rs 23,040 to Rs 28,800 per month.
The employees with an experience of more than 20 years will get an increase of Rs 2,500 in basic salary every month.
As a result, the employees who are currently earning a basic of 26,000 per month and total salary of Rs 37,440 will henceforth get a total salary of Rs 41,040. Similarly, those getting a basic of Rs 36,000 and total salary of 53,280 will now basic salary of Rs 39,500 basic and a tota salary of Rs 56,880 per month.
Parab said that the MSRTC had suffered huge revenue losses during the Covid-19 period and the State Government had extended a financial assistance of Rs 2,700 crore. “Owing to some reasons, the disbursal of salaries to the MSRRC was getting delayed earlier. Henceforth the MSRTC will gert salaries within 10th of every month,” the Minister said.
It may be recalled that the MSRTC workers went on an indefinite strike from October 28 to press for their various demands. The striking employees intensified their agitation from November 9 when all the MSRTC depots were shut down.
Before holding talks with the striking MSRTC employees, Parab had met chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar and NCP chief Sharad Pawar.