Chandigarh-Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Saturday, said that the state government has successfully executed the timely distribution of arrears and festival advances to PUNBUS employees, with Rs.1.15 crore being disbursed as the first installment of annual increment arrears to 3, 189 workers.
The Transport Minister reiterated that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of the employees and has implemented substantial measures to address the workforce's financial requirements.
Elaborating further, the Cabinet Minister said that PUNBUS has sanctioned the disbursement of 5 percent annual increment arrears covering October 2022 to August 2023 for contractual and outsourced employees.
The disbursement will proceed in three phases, with the initial installment of approximately Rs.1.15 crore is being transferred to 3, 189 workers. The remaining installments are scheduled for January and March 2025. He said that enhanced salaries for the period following September 2023 have been released within the designated timeframe.
In another employee-focused initiative, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar announced that following the Punjab Government's directive, PUNBUS has decided to provide festival advance of Rs.10, 000 for each of its approximately 4, 052 outsourced and contractual employees. This advance will be provided from their October 2024 salary and subsequently adjusted against the same month's wages.
"These financial measures will safeguard the interests of the employees, " said the Transport Minister, highlighting that Mann government's sustained efforts to support its workforce.