Contract workers take on Delhi labour minister at jan sunvai

Contract workers take on Delhi labour minister at jan sunvai

NEW DELHI: Dreaming of permanent jobs and eager for immediate redressal of grievances, angry contract workers on Friday took on labour minister Gopal Rai at a jan sunvai (public hearing) in the capital. Unemployed 21-year-old Nibha Jha was one of them who left the minister flustered sharing her anguish of low wages, long working hours and no scope of redressal while being employed by a contractor engaged by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Jha reminded Rai how she and others like her were lathi-charged by security personnel near Rajghat on March 25 when they tried to approach him to apprise him on the matter for the second time. “Why weren’t we allowed to meet you when we came to submit a memorandum on March 3? Where were you when we were beaten and lathi-charged?” asked Jha.

“Shame, shame!” shouted those with Jha under the banner of Delhi Metro Contract Workers Union. She had come to the public hearing organized by the labour minister to ‘hear the voices of suppression’ and problems of contract employees.

Though taken aback initially, the labour minister responded to Jha’s assertions by ordering labour commissioner Satish Mathur to arrange for a meeting with DMRC chief Mangu Singh to discuss employment conditions of contract workers engaged by contractors. However, Jha and others were unrelenting and continued to demand an answer for why the minister had not heard them earlier. The irked Rai responded curtly, “If I didn’t have to meet you, why would I hold this jan sunvai?”

Rai said that his government was well-meaning and solutions cannot come in five days. “We did not ask you to come out on the streets. I believe that when there is an AAP government no one needs to step out on the streets. If such a situation persists, then we have no business to be in government,” he told Jha. When Jha and other union members persisted for an answer, the minister brought the matter to an abrupt end saying, “I am not here to answer. I am here to hear you all.”

The first public hearing for contract workers at Shah Auditorium was marked by emotional and angry outbursts with the union members venting their ire at exploitative employers right from the start. The crowd included workers and trade unions of Delhi Metro, Delhi Jal Board, BSES, health, education, election and transport departments.

The minister got applause when he warned all departments and employers that none of the staff who had come forward to share their views would be exploited or thrown out of jobs for daring to speak. “We are committed to regularization of contractual employees, but few issues need to be resolved first. These include working out fair criteria for selection, financial implications and how funds would be allocated when more people are engaged as permanent employees. The chief minister is working on this,” Rai said.

(Original article from Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Contract-workers-take-on-Delhi-labour-minister-at-jan-sunvai/articleshow/47045687.cms )