Hubli
The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) has decided to hire bus drivers on a contractual basis due to a staff shortage and increasing demand for services. The recruitment will be done through an outsourcing agency. Although the government had approved the recruitment of 1,000 bus crew members, the corporation made temporary arrangements to hire drivers for a period of up to 11 months.
The hired drivers will receive training and may be terminated if permanent employees are recruited in the future. The government has permitted the corporation to hire 400 drivers through the agency on a contract basis.
A tender process was used to select the outsourcing agency, and a work order was issued. In some districts, there was a shortage of applicants, so the recruitment campaign was publicized widely.
Out of 400 required drivers, 120 have already been hired, while the recruitment of the remaining 280 is still ongoing. The selected candidates’ licences, badges, and fitness were checked, and they were trained at the NWKRTC institute in Hubballi.
There have been concerns from activists and youths regarding potential privatization of the corporation due to this recruitment process. However, the corporation clarified that these arrangements were temporary to address the staff shortage, as many employees are retiring each month.
