TN Govt announces 20 pc bonus to state transport employees

Chennai, Sep 29 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Government today announced 20 per cent bonus and ex-gratia together with a festival advance of Rs 2,000 to the employees of State Transport Corporation.

After holding talks here with the representatives of more than 20 unions, including Labour Progressive Front (LPF), affiliated to the ruling DMK, CITU, AITUC and Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai, Transport Minister K N Nehru announced 8.33 per cent bonus and 11.67 per cent ex-gratia like the last year.

He said the employees would be given a festival advance of Rs 2,000, against Rs 1,000 paid last year.

Under the agreement, the employees would get a maximum bonus of Rs 8,400, Mr Nehru said, adding that the bonus and festival advance would be given to the employees by October 15.

This would benefit a total of about 1.21 lakh workers and cost the exchequer an additional Rs 90 crore, he added.

While the LPF leader and DMK Parliament Member C Kuppusamy welcomed the bonus, stating that the government has come forward to give the same 20 per cent of bonus amid difficulties, majority of other unions expressed dissatisfaction.

When contacted, a CITU leader said almost all the unions demanded that the government should announce more than 20 per cent bonus in recognition of the hard work of the employees, but the Minister has rejected the demand.

However, all the union representatives signed the agreement and accepted the bonus and ex-gratia announced by the government.

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