Outsourced employees of A.P. State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) are demanding equal pay and job security,as voiced by AITUC State General Secretary S. Venkata Subbayya during a protest in Vijayawada on Monday, July 27,2026. demonstration,organized by the APSRTC Outsourcing Employees’ Union and AITUC,culminated in a public meeting at Dharna Chowk.
Subbayya highlighted the plight of approximately 8,000 outsourcing employees within APSRTC, emphasizing that their wages are managed through contractors. This arrangement has led to significant irregularities in their rights, particularly concerning wage payments, Provident Fund (PF),Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), and other legal benefits. Despite multiple representations made to both the state government and APSRTC management regarding challenges faced by hired-bus drivers and on-call drivers, he noted a lack of satisfactory responses.
Echoing these concerns,D . Ganga Anjaneyulu,State General Secretary of the Outsourcing Employees’ Union, called for enhanced job security for these workers. He criticized the government's move to privatize RTC operations, particularly through introduction of private electric buses,urging a withdrawal of this decision. The union leaders expressed their frustration over the ongoing neglect of their issues.
During the protest,union members warned that if their demands are not met promptly,they would escalate their actions, potentially leading to a state-wide strike. The situation reflects broader concerns about treatment of outsourced workers in the public sector,where disparities in pay and job security continue to provoke unrest.
As discussions around labor rights gain momentum,the APSRTC employees' struggle underscores the need for equitable treatment across all government departments. outcome of this agitation could have significant implications for labor relations in the region,particularly as the union prepares to intensify its efforts if government remains unresponsive.
