Trade union seeks legislation to regularise outsourced power sector workers

“The government, which is expected to be a model employer, is exploiting contract and outsourced workers by engaging them for several jobs in its departments, including those of a permanent nature,” State general secretary of CITU and honorary president of the Karnataka State Electricity Workers’ Federation S. Varalakshmi has alleged.

Speaking after inaugurating the Hescom Zonal Workers’ Convention of the Karnataka State Electricity Workers’ Federation here on Friday, Ms. Varalakhsmi said that the government was not implementing the principle of equal pay for equal work. On the contrary, it had withheld the implementation of the recently revised minimum wages, thereby betraying workers, she said.

Ms. Varalakshmi urged the government to enact the necessary legislation to regularise contract and outsourced employees. She said they were facing severe hardships and exploitation and were, in effect, living under a form of bonded labour.