Ladhowal toll barrier made free for over one hour by firm employees

The state’s most expensive Ladhowal toll plaza was shut by company employees for over one hour against non-fulfillment of their long-pending demands. Vehicles were allowed to pass from the barrier without paying fee as all staff members staged a sit-in at the toll barrier.

Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union had also joined the protest to support the company employees.

Workers and members of the farmer union raised slogans against the company managing affairs of the toll barrier. Before the starting of the protest, toll firm and police officials tried to convince the workers to avoid the protest as their demands would be fulfilled but the employees did not budge and shut the operation of the toll barrier and giving vehicles a free pass.

The protest started around 11 am and after over one hour, the company officials agreed to fulfil all demands of the workers. Following which, the protest was lifted and the toll barrier was made operational.

Station House Officer, Ladhowal police station, Inspector Harpreet Singh Dehal, played an important role in holding a talk between the protesting workers and company officials.

“The toll barrier remained close for over an hour. After the company agreed to fulfill demands of the protesting workers, toll barrier was made operational and workers returned to work,” he said.

Inspector Dehal said during the protest, law and order was maintained at the toll barrier and sufficient force was deployed to manage the situation.

District head of the Toll Plaza Employees Union, Bachittar Singh, said the toll barrier was kept closed for over one hour. Meanwhile, Punjab Police officials came and held a meeting with the company. During the meeting, the company accepted demands of its employees. Now, an agreement is reached between them. Afterwards, the employees ended the strike and started the toll tax collection. If the company failed to keep its promise, the union will again stop the functioning of the toll plaza.

“The employees working at all toll barriers of the state today joined the protest. Workers are not being given any government holiday and neither their PF is being deducted. The company is not providing ESI and welfare schemes to toll employees. Even salaries are not being paid as per the wage norms of the Union Government. It is a direct violation of rights of the employees due to which the union had already announced that the Ladhowal toll plaza would be closed indefinitely from September 27 and no toll would be collected from any vehicle but now the demands were accepted,” he said