Honorarium increased for contract drivers and conductors in UP, incentive amount also increased

Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has announced an increase in the honorarium of drivers and conductors working on contract. This step is a relief for more than 35,000 contractual employees. Along with increasing the honorarium, changes have also been made in the incentive allowance scheme, which will provide more benefits to the employees.

Increase in driver and conductor honorarium

UPSRTC has revised the remuneration of contract drivers and conductors on per kilometer basis.

• Driver: Earlier the payment per kilometer was Rs 1.89, which has now increased to Rs 2.06.
• Conductor: Earlier, Rs 1.89 per kilometer was available, which has been increased to Rs 2.02.
• Increase in daily earnings: There will be a significant increase in the daily earnings of drivers and conductors of buses running on an average 600 kilometers.

Benefit:

• This salary increase will improve the financial condition of contract drivers and conductors of roadways.
• This will help in removing the long standing hindrance in recruitment, as people were reluctant to work on contract due to low salaries.

This order will not apply to some areas

However, this order will not apply to all contractual employees.

• Exempt areas:
  • Noida Municipal Services
  • Gorakhpur area: Sonauli, Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar Depot
• The salary of employees in these areas is already Rs 2.18 per kilometer, so they will not get any benefit from this order.

Incentive Allowance: New system implemented

UPSRTC has also amended the Incentive Allowance Scheme, whereby employees will get additional benefits based on their service.

• Ability:
  • The driver will have to provide continuous service for 2 years and the conductor for 4 years.
  • Will have to complete 288 days of duty every year.
  • The target requires completion of 7800 kilometers (best plan) and 66,000 kilometers (best plan).
• allowance:
  • Employees with better performance will be given incentives under the Uttam and Best schemes.

Mixed reaction among employees

While the move is a relief to many employees, the salary hike of only 7% for conductors (compared to 9% for drivers) has created resentment.

• Statement of Contract Employees Union:
  • State General Secretary of Contract Driver Operator Employees Sangharsh Union Kanhaiya Lal Pandey and Convenor Mohd. Jamal expressed displeasure over the two percent reduction in salary.
  • He says that contract employees should get remuneration at the same rate.

wider impact of the decision

The biggest benefit of this wage increase will be that the increase in per kilometer remuneration of contract drivers and conductors will stabilize their income and increase their attractiveness for the job.

• Improvement in recruitment process: The new honorarium will make it easier for roadways to attract more qualified candidates on contract.
• Improvement in quality of service: Employee satisfaction is likely to improve the quality of transportation services.