Owners of tanker lorries transporting LPG across the State, and their drivers and cleaners have reached a three-year wage settlement, ending nine months’ discussions that saw a total of 22 rounds of talks.
The agreement, that will benefit approximately 1,000 drivers and cleaners, was reached in the presence of Additional Labour Commissioner G.L. Muraleedaran in the State capital early this week.
ExcludedHowever, the wage agreement will not be applicable to lorry drivers and crew servicing LPG bottling plant at Kazhakuttam operated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Paripally bottling plant operated by Indian Oil Corporation as they were not party to the wage agreement talks.
A spokesman for the Kerala State Tank Lorry Workers’ Union (CITU), which pressed for wage revision, said the drivers and crew were happy with the new settlement.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Department said that the wages agreement was applicable to drivers and crew of tanker lorries serving IOC bottling plant at Udayamperoor; BPCL plant at Chelari; IOC plant at Kanjikode, and HPC plant at Irumbanam.
As per the agreement, the transport contractors will pay Rs.675 in the first year; Rs.725 in the second, and Rs.825 in the third year to their drivers for local trips up to 200 km.
For every km above 200 km, the drivers will get Rs.3.25, Rs.3.50, and Rs.4 in the first, second and third years respectively.
The lorry drivers will be paid Rs. 910, Rs. 980 and Rs. 1,115 respectively over three years.
Cleaners will get Rs. 350, Rs. 375 and 430 respectively over the three years, the PRD press statement said.
Drivers will get bonuses of Rs.5,000, Rs. 5,250, and Rs. 5,500 respectively over the three years of the agreement. The cleaners’ bonus rate is Rs.2,500, Rs.2625 and Rs.2,750 over the three years.