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Minimum Wages Guarantee Act Should Be Implemented Until Final Decision is Made
Increase in Anganwadi Workers’ Monthly Wages and Other Demands Should Also Be Met: Aijaz Ahmad Khan
Srinagar, April 3: The Employees Joint Consultative Committee (EJCC), the largest unified platform of employee unions, has welcomed the government’s decision to form a high-level committee to resolve the issue of regularizing temporary employees within six months. The EJCC emphasized that until a final decision is made, the Minimum Wages Guarantee Act should be implemented for all such employees.
EJCC Chairman Ejaz Ahmad Khan in a statement issued here also urged an increase in the monthly wages of Anganwadi workers and stressed the need to resolve issues related to employees’ General Provident Fund (GPF) matters. He welcomed the implementation of the Minimum Wages Guarantee Act for temporary employees of the Waqf Board.
According to a statement issued by the EJCC spokesperson, a crucial meeting of the Employees Joint Consultative Committee was held at the central office in Srinagar on Thursday, chaired by Chairman Aijaz Ahmad Khan. The meeting was attended by the heads of all employee organizations affiliated with the forum, including Shabir Ahmad Langu, Sajjad Khawaja, Khalid Mahmood, Javed Ahmad Akhoon, Abdul Qayoom Baig, Munir Filgro, Peer Nisar, Rahmatullah Khan, Saleem Sagar, Javed Ahmad Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Kawa, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Farooq Ahmad Rather, Javed Ahmad Malik, Riaz Ahmad Kar, Fida Mohammad, Mukhtar Ahmad Wani, Ghulam Nabi Ganaie, Abdul Qayoom Lone, Sabiya Ji, Aamna Ji, and Azmat Iqbal.
Following extensive discussions, Chairman Aijaz Ahmad Khan addressed the meeting and expressed appreciation for the announcement made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Assembly regarding the formation of a high-level committee to regularize the employment of daily wagers, casual laborers, and other temporary workers across various government departments. The committee has been given six months to submit its report with recommendations.
Furthermore, the EJCC chairman urged the government to restore the Old Age Pension Scheme and reinstate SRO-43 in its original form. He also called for the reorganization of all government departments and emphasized that department heads should be required to hold at least two Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings annually.
Khan also stressed that teachers employed in government schools should be included under leave benefits. Referring to the Chief Minister’s statement in the Assembly about increasing legislators’ salaries, he emphasized that the concerns, difficulties, and demands of government employees should also be addressed.
During the crucial meeting, it was decided that the EJCC would wait for one month for the resolution of all legitimate demands of both temporary and permanent employees. The chairman expressed hope that the government would fulfill these long-pending demands within the stipulated time. However, he also warned that while the EJCC is not inclined towards protests, if forced, they will take to the streets once again to highlight their grievances.
