Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 12: Former Legislature from Ramban, Ashok Kumar has strongly pleaded to the Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir to revoke SRO-520 and implement SRO-64 for over 60,000 casual labourers and daily wagers for early regularization.
In a press statement here Ex-MLA said that these daily wagers are facing prolonged financial crisis and completely helpless during lock down under covid-19 pandemic. The families of casual labourers are under financial crunch due to very low monthly wages as compared to other employees.
Ashok has said that thousands of casual labourers/daily rated workers are working in different department of Jammu and Kashmir Government for the last 15 years and still waiting for regularization. He stressed that Government must understand the financial difficulties faced by these workers to maintain their everyday survival, livelihood and family affairs.
He further demanded implementation of Minimum Wages Act in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory as per Central norms, revoke SRO-520 and implement SRO-64 as early as possible for the welfare of casual labourers. All casual/daily rated workers should get equal benefits which other regular employees are getting such as DA, MA, HRA, increment, time bound promotion etc. The Supreme Court of India has also advocated that there should be equal work for equal pay. The same rules should also implement in our Union Territory for the betterment of casual labourers.
Ex-MLA has said that post bifurcation of State in two Union Territories Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, one lakh daily rated workers engaged by various Government departments are facing uncertain futures and are under mental stress. Majority of them are without salaries from the last 5 years. These employees are fighting hard and visiting on daily basis their concerned department for information regarding the status of regularization and pending salaries but are ignored.
Moreover, Central Government has direct control on Finance and Administration. It is the best time to seriously work about their cause. He stressed upon the Central Government to regularize all the employees engaged under SRO-520 in Jammu and Kashmir.
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