University transport staff to get bonus

Industrial Tribunal, presiding officer A Kanthakumar, who ruled in favour of the workers, held that the failure of Sathyabama University to file income and expenditure statement to support their claim that they are a non-profit organisation is indication enough that it is a profit-making institution and is liable to pay bonus to its workers. 

The transport workers part of the Pudiya Jananayaga Vagana Ottunargal Mattrum Techniciangal Union had contended that they are covered under the Motor Transport Employees Act and hence the university is liable to pay bonus to them. It was also submitted that the management is having several buses to transport the students, teaching and non-teaching staff to the university after collecting huge transport fee from them. 

On noting that the management despite making huge profit out of the transport fee collected, refused to pay transport workers the bonus due to them on the basis that it is a minority educational institution and is not a commercial and profit making institution. 

The university had contended that Section 32 (v)(b) of the Payment of Bonus Act clearly exempts universities and educational institutions from paying bonus to its employees and hence the demand for bonus by virtue of falling under the Motor Transport Workers Act does not make them eligible for bonus.