42 HP workers at Rohtang tunnel project face wage bias

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, October 13

Around 42 employees of Strabag and Afcon Construction joint venture company working in the Rohtang tunnel project are the victim of discrimination in the payment of monthly wages.

There is a provision to provide the difficult area allowance to the working staff. It is given to those engaged in tough areas in such projects. The amount of the difficult area allowance is fixed at Rs 8,000 per month across the nation but in Himachal Pradesh, there is discrimination between Himachali and non-Himachali employees.

The employees from Himachal are being given Rs 4,000 per month as the difficult area allowance, while non-Himachali employees are being paid Rs 8,000 per month for working at the same place in the same project.

A few joint venture employees told The Tribune that the work at the Rohtang tunnel project started in 2010. Since then, they had been facing discrimination. They said that now the project was in the final stages. Most of the employees would be sacked on the completion of the project.

“We want arrears of the allowance. It is our right. When all employees are working in same conditions at the same place, why this discrimination against Himachali employees? The matter was also raised with the Union Government as well as the state government to ensure justice to Himachali employees working under Strabag and Afcon Construction Company,” they added.

Getting 50 per cent less

• There is a provision to provide difficult area allowance to the working staff
• It is given to those engaged in tough areas
• The allowance is fixed at Rs 8,000 per month but in Himachal, different amounts are paid to Himachali and non-Himachali staff members
• The employees from Himachal are being paid Rs 4,000 per month while non-Himachalis are being given Rs 8,000