Powercom, Transco workers hold protest against electricity Bill

Contract workers of Powercom and Transco staged a strong protest outside the local Powercom office on Wednesday, opposing the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 and the alleged move to sell government-owned Powercom land. The demonstration was held under the banner of the Powercom and Transco Contract Employees Union Punjab, which had given a statewide call for division-level protests.

The protesters raised slogans against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Power Minister Sanjeev Arora, accusing the government of advancing privatisation at the cost of employees’ livelihoods. Outsourced and contract workers participated in large numbers.

Addressing the gathering, division president Arshdeep Suman, GTS Union sub-division president Hansraj, president Mahinder Pal, senior meet president Maninder Billa, press secretary Sohan Lal and other union leaders said both the central and state governments were repeatedly amending laws to favour corporate profit under a broader privatisation agenda. They claimed the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 was another step in this direction.

Union leaders warned that the proposed bill threatens the job security of thousands of electricity workers, particularly outsourced and contract staff, who fear large-scale job loss. They further alleged that the bill could end pension guarantees for retired employees and eliminate subsidies currently provided to farmers, labourers and small businesses.

The speakers demanded that both the Centre and the Punjab Government withdraw the draft amendment bill, stop privatisation within Powercom and Transco, and halt the sale of land belonging to Powercom and other public institutions.