Petrol pumps in the state are set to close from 8 pm on Sunday until 6 am on Monday as a protest against the frequent attacks on fuel station employees by customers. The All Kerala Federation of Petroleum Traders (AKFPT) made this decision, calling for the enactment of a special law to safeguard petrol pumps and their employees, similar to the law protecting healthcare workers and establishments in the state. AKFPT President Tomy Thomas highlighted the need for this measure, citing over 200 reported attacks on petrol pump employees across various parts of the state in 2023. He expressed concerns about the lack of government and petroleum pump operator actions to address the issue, emphasizing the urgency for a legal framework to ensure security.
Thomas further explained that the protest is also a precautionary measure, as violence by New Year revelers is common on December 31 and January 1. He noted that many employees are reluctant to work at petrol pumps due to security concerns, with a significant shift from local workers to migrant employees. Thomas highlighted the decline in the number of women employees and the pressure from petroleum companies on fuel station owners to increase the sales of premium petrol and diesel, leading to instances where employees were attacked for filling premium fuel in customers’ vehicles.
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