Hubballi: Electricity contract workers of Hubballi Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) started a two-day hunger strike near the HESCOM head office at Navanagar, demanding regularisation of their service and cancellation of direct recruitment system in Energy Department.
Under the banner of Karnataka State Electricity Workers’ Federation (KSEWF), protesters demanded formation of special rules to regularise the service of contract workers and equal pay for equal work.
Contract workers who were serving KPTCL and HESCOM since the last 15 years and dismissed, should be reinstated in same posts; Rs 21,000 minimum wages per month should be paid to contract workers, before the fifth day of every month besides other facilities given to them, they demanded.
Many station operators, computer operators, meter readers, bill collectors, clerks, drivers and sweepers who are working on contract basis are deprived of facilities like proper payment and job security. As their work is dangerous, they should get more salary, said CITU District Unit General Secretary Mahesh Pattar.
The service of contract workers of HESCOM and KPTCL should be regularised, he added.
KSEWF President J Satyababu, Doddappa Bolakatti, Anand Angadi and others led the protest. HESCOM and KPTCL contract workers from Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada, Belagavi, Bagalkot and Vijayapur district are taking part in the protest.
