Contractual staff want equal pay for equal work

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 18

Activists of the Theka Mulazim Sangharsh Morcha protested against the step-motherly treatment meted out to them by the state government today.

Representing around 1.5 lakh workers working on the contract basis in different departments of the Punjab government, the Morcha members gave a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

Talking to The Tribune, Kuldeep Singh Budhewal said, “The employees have been working on contract, temporary and daily wages for long. The employees are not given any facility, including pensionary benefits, medical leaves and allowances, among others.”

The union leaders said such exploitation should be stopped and privatisation of the government departments should be curbed.

“The pay should be given on the basis of work and not as per regular/contractual basis. Equal work, equal wages should be the yard stick. If employees raise their voice, case is registered against them,” said Budhewal.

The union members said the Employee Welfare Act-2016, should be implemented for the welfare of employees. They added that in case the government fails to solve their issues they would further intensify their agitation.