The United Drivers’ Union states that there are currently more than 3,000 vacancies for drivers in central government institutions, it was reported.
The union has explained that this shortage has created numerous problems within the state driver service.
Union President U.A. Lakshman said that while 23,400 drivers are required to serve in government institutions, at present, only a little over 20,000 are in service.
He noted that this situation has arisen because drivers have not been properly recruited to central government institutions since 2016.
Due to the existing vacancies, some institutions have even had to withdraw vehicles from operation, while drivers in service are compelled to work significant overtime beyond their daily duty hours, he added.
However, he pointed out that overtime payments are made only for a limited number of hours.
According to standard procedure, drivers should be transferred to another service station after five years, but in some institutions, drivers have been working continuously for 10 to 12 years, which has caused serious injustice to them, the union president said.
He further stated that the number of vacancies has increased due to retirements, and urged that a program be prepared to expedite the recruitment of drivers in view of the current situation. (Newswire)