NALSAR Workers' Welfare Society Organized A Protest To Draw Attention To Poor Working Conditions Of Contract Labourers In Hyderabad

The NALSAR Workers' Welfare Society in Hyderabad recently organized a protest to draw attention to the poor working conditions of contract laborers at the University. The student body comprising the Society aimed to raise awareness among the administration about the continuous infringement of workers' rights on campus. They have brought light to issues such as non-payment of minimum wages, no weekly paid leave, no overtime pay, and a lack of social security benefits for contract laborers at NALSAR.

According to the Society, NALSAR has committed wage theft over the last year (2021-2022) by failing to pay workers what they are rightfully owed.

According to the NALSAR Workers' Welfare Society's representation, the Telangana government issued GO No. 60 in June 2021, which increased the wages of certain classes of workers by 30%. The universities in Telangana that outsource services are required to ensure that the agencies they hire pay a fixed remuneration to the individuals deployed by them. For the Last Grade Service, which includes positions such as Office Subordinate, Attender, Gardner, and Sweeper, the remuneration is fixed at ₹15,600 per month under the GO, subject to future revisions. However, despite this, the workers on campus have not received enhanced remuneration.

The representation also highlights that the wages paid to housekeeping and mess workers at NALSAR were almost half of the minimum wages fixed by the Labour Department for the period between March 2021 to April 2022. The Society alleges that this is a violation of The Minimum Wages Act, of 1948, as the workers are entitled to the minimum wage rates fixed by the government.

The NALSAR Workers' Welfare Society also highlighted the unfair termination of a guard on campus without any written complaint, inquiry, or prior notice. The reason given for her termination was that she was unmarried and talking to students, which implied that she was somehow involved in campus affairs.

The NALSAR Workers' Welfare Society has made several demands from the administration, which include:

1. A written apology and one extra month's compensation for the unlawful and humiliating termination of the GH Guard.
2. Compliance with government orders.
3. Compensation for contract workers for their lost wages due to non-compliance with the Minimum Wages Act, of 1948.
4. Paid leaves and overtime wages for all contract workers.
5. Provision of EPF and ESI for all contract workers, as per government notifications.
6. Safety equipment and a compensation scheme for workplace accidents.
7. The University must ensure that contractors follow the procedure for disciplinary action and termination of contract workers.
8. Constitution of a Grievance Redressal Committee with the membership of students, workers, and faculty members.