Contract Powercom staff begin indefinite stir

The contract employees of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today began an indefinite strike and permanent sit-in protest outside the residence of Power Minister Sanjeev Arora. Contract workers from across the state gathered in Ludhiana around noon to mark the start of their agitation.

Minister Sanjeev Arora, talking to The Tribune said their case was under consideration and whatever best as per rules can be done, would be done. “I have asked the district administration to tell employees to meet me in Chandigarh on Monday so that we can hold talks in the presence of Finance Minister,” said Arora.

Meanwhile, the ongoing strike is expected to affect power supply and complaint resolution services, as employees handle maintenance and fault redressal work across the city.

Following a protest held on October 28, the Ludhiana administration had fixed a meeting with the employees’ union for November 6. However, Powercom management issued a letter on November 5, refusing to hold the meeting. In response, the union decided to launch an indefinite protest outside the minister’s residence from the morning of November 7.

Union leaders said they would not retreat until their demands were met. They also announced plans to hold a flag march in Tarn Taran Assembly by-election constituency on November 9.

Alleging that the Punjab Government and the Power Department were moving rapidly towards privatisation, the union claimed that Powercom’s assets were being sold, contract firms being promoted, and chip-based smart meters were being installed — all steps towards privatising the power sector.

The employees demanded a complete repeal of the Central Government’s Electricity Amendment Bill, 2025, calling it a “conspiracy to hand over the power sector to corporate houses.”

The protesting workers further alleged that the department lacks proper safety measures. “Due to the absence of safety kits and mismanagement, more than 400 contract workers have died of electrocution and hundreds have been permanently disabled,” the union said. Despite repeated demands, no compensation, pension or jobs were provided to the victims’ families, the union said.

The employees have demanded cancellation of all privatisation moves related to Powercom and Transco, regularisation of all contract and outsourced workers, and permanent jobs and pensions for the families of deceased employees.

They also sought implementation of salaries as per the 1948 Act or 15th Labour Conference, lifting of the ban on departmental posts, new recruitments and adequate safety gear and measures at workplaces.

ADCP RS Bhullar said till now dharna by the employees was peaceful and they were only raising slogans. “We hope that by evening a dialogue will be held between the government and striking employees to put an end to the agitation,” Bhullar said.