Regularisation, clearance of pending dues: Why irrigation workers in Karnataka are protesting

On Wednesday, irrigation workers employed on the Tungabhadra irrigation project gathered at Bengaluru's Freedom Park to voice their concerns, demanding contract regularisation, wage issues, and the end of the contract labour system. Represented by the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), these workers, affiliated with the Tungabhadra Neeravari Karmikara Sangha, have been serving the Tungabhadra project for the past 25-30 years under the contract system, despite performing permanent work.

The Sangha issued a statement demanding the regularisation of these contract workers, the abolishment of the contract system, and the implementation of a direct payment system. They also called for wage payments on a fixed date, clearance of outstanding dues, including wages, EPF, and repayment of illegally deducted wages with interest.

Equal pay for equal work and job security for workers were also part of their demands. At the protest, the state government's Minor Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh addressed the 1,500 workers, assuring them that their demands would be discussed at the state government level and brought before CM D K Shivakumar and the Water Resources Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy.

The AICCTU held another protest on Thursday, calling for the end of the contract labour system across sectors and regularisation of workers, alongside reforms to wages and benefits.