PANAJI: PWD contract workers have submitted a memorandum to PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and the PCE, seeking regularisation after years of service under temporary status with limited benefits under the 6th Pay Commission.
Announcing their next course of action today, the workers said a silent protest will be held at Azad Maidan on May 1, with over 300 workers expected to participate. They added that the agitation will remain peaceful and will not disrupt public movement.
“We have forwarded our memorandum to the PCE and will also submit a copy to the Minister, who has called us for a meeting at the Secretariat later today,” a representative said.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, the workers claimed that more than 1,700 employees across departments, including PWD, Labour Society, RDA, and the Health Department, continue to be denied basic service rights despite years of work.
“Some of us have been on temporary status for over 15 years, yet we are not regularised. We are only getting limited benefits under the 6th Pay Commission,” another worker said.
They also cautioned fellow workers against relying on assurances from the government. “We appeal to contract workers not to fall into the trap of false promises about regularisation. Many are reaching retirement without being made permanent,” the representative stated.
The protest, they said, will be a silent demonstration without slogans. “This is a peaceful protest to demand our rights. We will not cause inconvenience to the public or create law and order issues,” the workers said.
The group further expressed frustration over repeated delays despite ongoing engagement with the government. “We have been meeting the Chief Minister regularly, and even earlier, there were assurances during the budget. Now we are told there are technical issues and that the matter is in process,” a worker said.
Stating that verbal assurances have yielded little progress, the workers said they are now shifting to formal and legal routes. “If the government continues to ignore our official representations, we are prepared to approach the court,” they warned.
