The recruitment process is being overseen by the International Migration Centre-Karnataka, which is part of the Indian Government’s Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood.
According to the article, those applying for the roles need not have any “specific educational qualifications”. The requirements are to have an Indian HGV license that was issued prior to September 2009, and to have “good English communication skills”.
To decide who will be offered the vacancies, the applicants’ driving skills will be ruled over at a test track in the Bengaluru area later this month.
Those who make the grade will then be offered a complimentary visa and flights to allow them to work in Hungary.
Once in Hungary, the drivers will undergo 6 months of training, during which they will receive a stipend of around 50,000 to 60,000 rupees (roughly €560-675).
Thereafter, the truckers will receive a monthly salary between Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh, which works out at more or less €1,125 to €1,687.
The news comes as more and more haulage firms across Europe are looking to tap into the Indian driver market. The likes of cargoGO, Girteka and Waberer’s have all publicly stated that they have drivers from India or other Asian nations on their books, with others seemingly destined to follow suit.
Amid this trend, Indian hauliers are now worrying about a HGV driver shortage in their own country. The Economic Times report states that according to the Indian Truck Owners Association, for every 100 trucks in the country, there are only 70 drivers. The shortage is said to effect all regions across India.
GR Shanmukhappa, Secretary General of the South India Motor Transport Association, as well as the President of the Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association, told The Economic Times that the driver shortage was now the “primary challenge” facing India’s transport sector.
He added that the industry was aware of drivers leaving to work in western countries, with higher wages being a major pull factor. Shanmukhappa said that India pays its around 35,000 rupees per month, which is less than €400.
Photo: shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (illustrative image)