Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 2: The PHE workers and daily wagers’ staged protest demonstration outside the office of Chief Engineer PHE/ Jal Shakti Department at B C Road Complex here today.
They are demanding release of their pending wages of about 70 months and also regularisation of their services. Their strike and protest dharna continued the 164th consecutive day today outside the office of Chief Engineer, PHE / Jal Shakti Department Jammu and other Divisional and Sub-Divisional headquarters across Jammu region.
PHE workers are on strike since June 22, 2022 and demanding release of their pending wages and regularization of their services. Despite several rounds of talks with higher authorities in the Department, their issues could not be resolved despite Lt Governor’s assurance.
A large number of PHE workers from various Divisions and Sub- Divisions in Jammu district, Assembled outside the office of Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, at BC Road, under the banner of PHE United Front and held strong protest demonstration. They were shouting slogans in support of their demands and also against LG’s Administration, BJP and higher authorities in the J&K UT.
The employees representatives including, Ravi Hans, Navdeep Singh, Hoshiar Singh, Rajinder Singh and others said that in the past they had called off their strike merely on assurances but nothing happened till date. Therefore, they have decided not to call off strike until an order is issued by the Government. They appealed to the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to honor his commitment made on October 17 meeting.
These workers are demanding regularization, enhancement of Minimum Wages as per Central norms in J&K UT and release of pending wages of 70 months of PHE workers. The continuous strike of PHE workers has badly affected the water supply at many places across Jammu province.