Trade union seeks legislation to regularise outsourced power sector workers

The State general secretary of the Central India Trade Union (CITU) and honorary president of the Karnataka State Electricity Workers’ Federation, S. Varalakshmi, has accused the government of exploiting contract and outsourced workers in its departments. She contends that the government engages these workers for various jobs, including permanent positions, without adhering to the principle of equal pay for equal work.

Instead, the government has failed to implement the recently revised minimum wages, which Varalakshmi claims betrays the workers. She has called for legislation to regularize the status of contract and outsourced employees, who face severe hardships and exploitation, effectively living under a form of bonded labor. A State-level convention of workers in the power generation, supply, and distribution sectors is scheduled for September 29 in Bengaluru to press for the implementation of revised minimum wages, regularization of services, and other demands.

National president of the Electrical Engineering and Financial Institutions Employees Union (EEFI) Sudeep Dutta and CITU national general secretary Elamaram Kareem will participate in the convention.