Par panel for uniform policy of recruiting bank drivers

"Engagement of drivers for such a long period spanning over 15 to 25 years indicate beyond any manner of doubt that they are performing a perennial nature of job. The panel deplores any such contractual arrangement," the Standing Committee on Labour said in its report tabled in Lok Sabha.

"The Committee are therefore of the considered view that if executives of the bank avail facility for bank owned vehicle, it is then incumbent upon the bank to bring these chauffeurs in the regular employment of the bank," it said while highlighting problems of drivers engaged by the Allahabad Bank.

The panel, however, appreciated the fact that the Bank have regularised 115 out of 121 temporary drivers who applied for regularisation from September last year and hoped it would be flexible in setting eligibility criteria to regularise others.

It recommended that a transparent policy may be framed for recruitment of regular drivers by the Bank to avoid any dispute or litigation in the matter.

The Committee, which sought information from some leading nationalised banks regarding engagement of drivers for their executives entitled for vehicle, found that more or less the same procedure of hiring drivers is prevalent in almost all the banks, though their wages are higher as compared to the Allahabad Bank.

"...Necessary instructions be issued by Finance Ministry to all nationalised banks for framing uniform policy and transparent guidelines for recruitment of regular drivers," the panel emphasised.