PANJIM: The Balrath employees on Wednesday withdrew their indefinite strike after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured to increase the remuneration of drivers and attendants to Rs 17,000 and Rs 10,000 per month, respectively.
With effect from June, this year, the drivers would be paid Rs 17,000 as against Rs 11,000 and attendants would get salary of Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,500 for 11 months, with 5 per cent annual hike.
The Balrath employees under All Goa United Balrath Employees Union were on indefinite strike from Monday to meet their long pending demands including pay rise, regularisation into services and benefits under ESI, PF and health insurance apart from other demands.
The employees on Wednesday held a meeting with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during which the new remuneration proposal was agreed upon. There are a total 420 balrath buses operational across the State.
Speaking to the media persons post meeting, Union President Swati Kerkar said that the employees have decided to withdraw their strike and join duty from Thursday onwards.
She said that the government also agreed to provide benefits like bus insurance, health insurance and timely release of salaries directly into the account. The government had earlier proposed a salary of Rs 12,000 and Rs 6,000, which the employees refused to accept.
