Srinagar: Multiple unions of daily rated and temporary workers on Monday staged a peaceful demonstration near Kashmir Haat at the Exhibition Crossing in Srinagar, demanding regularization of over 61,000 daily wagers across Jammu and Kashmir and the implementation of the revised Minimum Wages Act.
Carrying placards and banners reading “We Want Justice” and “Regularize Daily Wagers”, the protestors gathered under the banner of several worker unions representing various government departments including Public Health Engineering, Power Development, Forest, and Rural Development.
The protesting workers said that despite decades of service, they continue to work under uncertainty, deprived of job security, benefits, and adequate pay. “We have been serving this administration for years, some for more than two decades, yet we are treated as temporary labourers,” one of the protest leaders said, urging the government to act before the upcoming elections.
The workers accused successive administrations of making repeated assurances without implementing a concrete policy for regularization. “We are not seeking charity; we are seeking justice. Our services are vital for keeping government departments functional, yet our contribution is ignored,” said another union representative.
The demonstrators also pressed for immediate implementation of the revised Minimum Wages Act, pointing out that inflation and rising living costs have made survival difficult for those earning meagre daily wages. “The government must ensure that every daily rated worker receives wages as per the new minimum wage structure,” they demanded.
Security personnel were deployed in the area to ensure order, and traffic movement near the Exhibition Crossing remained partially affected for a short duration. The protest, however, concluded peacefully after union representatives submitted a memorandum to the concerned authorities.
The workers warned of a larger agitation if the administration fails to announce a clear regularization policy soon, stressing that patience among the workforce is wearing thin. [KNT]
