KSRTC fires women employees with over 15 years of service via phone call, sparking outrage

Thiruvananthapuram: In a deeply unsettling move, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has abruptly dismissed 100 women employees — many of whom had served diligently as Office Assistants for over 15 years — through nothing more than a phone call. These women, originally appointed as Junior Office Assistants via employment exchanges since 2007, were let go without warning, stripping them of their livelihoods after years of dedicated service.

Most of them come from financially poor backgrounds. The majority lack the skills or opportunity to find alternative employment, and many have already crossed the age limit to apply for new jobs. Among them are widows, people with illnesses and persons with disabilities, now left in a state of despair and uncertainty.

Out of 190 temporary employees, 100 were abruptly terminated starting in July, without any prior notice. They were informed through their respective office heads not to report to work from the following day.

The remaining 90 employees are now being assigned extra duties to manage the office workload. The official claim that the dismissals were part of a staff restructuring process has been proven false by this move.

Initially, these temporary staff members were hired for night shifts at cash counters. They had lost their jobs during the COVID season but were reappointed later by the Corporation.