Punjab Roadways Contract Workers Protest for Regularization and Contract Abolition

Contract workers from Punjab Roadways have taken to the streets, demanding regularization of their jobs and the end of the contract system. Protests occurred at multiple depots, with union leaders accusing the Punjab government of failing to fulfill promises made over the years. With no resolution in sight, the workers threaten to strike and hold a hunger strike during the upcoming assembly session if their demands are not addressed. This situation highlights ongoing issues within the transport sector and the plight of contract workers in Punjab.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 16:06 IST

Protests Erupt Across Punjab Roadways Depots

Hoshiarpur, July 27 - Contract workers of Punjab Roadways staged demonstrations on Monday at the gates of various bus depots across the state, advocating for their demands. Their key requests include the regularization of their employment and the elimination of the contract system. These protests were organized by Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS, and the 'PRTC Contract Workers Union' at all 27 depots in the state.

During a rally at the Hoshiarpur depot, union leader Kulwant Singh accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of failing to fulfill its repeated promises to regularize contract workers. He asserted that there have been approximately 70 meetings with the government over the past four years, yet no concrete decisions have been made regarding the workers' demands. The union also pointed out that committees formed by the government to investigate the matter have yielded no results.

The union claimed that since the current government took office, no contract worker in the transport department has been regularized. They further alleged that the contract system continues to subject workers to exploitation. Raminder Singh, president of the Hoshiarpur depot, and Narinder Singh, secretary, highlighted issues such as irregularities in route allocation, recruitment of outsourced workers, and the lack of a special cadre policy for contract workers without addressing their long-standing demands.

They mentioned that during a meeting on June 24, the government requested 10 days to draft a policy for regularizing contract workers and resolving other issues, but no decision has been made to date. The union reiterated that if their demands are not met, workers will go on a three-day strike from August 3 to 5 and protest outside the residences of the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister. They also announced plans for a hunger strike during the upcoming monsoon session of the Punjab Assembly.