No obligation to give salaries to employees who do not give any value to govt; Transport Minister toughens stance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Transport Minister Antony Raju has toughened his stand on the KSRTC pay issue. The minister reiterated that those employees who took part in the strike would not be paid salary for the day.

"The employees who took part in the strike were the ones who declared war on the civilians. Let those who caused the crisis to solve the problem themselves. 'The unions went on strike without giving the government a chance to pay their wages on the 10th. Should the government keep its word?" the minister said.

With the minister toughening his stance, KSRTC began action to cut two days' wages of workers who took part in the national strike. The government has directed to prepare the list of workers who participated in the strike Monday itself. KSRTC estimates that it could save over Rs 12 crore by cutting the salaries for two days.