SANGUEM
Nearly 1,700 workers under the PWD Contract Workers Labour Society have demanded the immediate sanctioning of the 7th Pay Commission, after claiming that they are still not provided the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission despite assurances by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Besides receiving salaries under the 7th Pay Commission, the workers have also demanded an increase in earned leave, medical benefits and encashment of earned leave.
Sawant had recently sanctioned the 7th pay commission benefits to KTC employees after the KTC workers staged an agitation.
The PWD contract workers said they petitioned Sawant in the matter and the chief minister had assured workers of immediate sanctioning the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission.
Till date, the PWD contract workers claim they have not got the benefits.
The PWD Contract Workers Society has 1,687 workers, of which about 1,140 of them have been working for the PWD for about two decades, while the others have been working for about one decade. They still receive salaries under the 6th Pay Commission.
The workers said they are presently allowed to accumulate 45 days of earned leave to their account as against the 300-day leave period entitled to other employees.
“Why is there a disparity in payment of wages and other benefits to us, when we do the same work as is being done by other department employees,” questioned a PWD contract worker.
The workers also demanded an immediate stop to a 5% deduction of amount from their salaries to the Society’s account.
