Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar finally assured Public Works Department (PWD) workers that their appointments would be made regular at the time of filling vacant posts in the department.
His assurance on Wednesday came after hundreds of workers under the PWD Labour Supply Society took to the streets protesting the government’s attitude towards fulfilling their pending demands.
The workers, backed by the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) marched from Panjim KTC Bus Stand and were walking towards the CM’s official residence at Altinho when they were stopped near Panjim Church. A six-member delegation then met Parsekar with a list of pending demands.
The protest was called off based on Parsekar’s assurance, AITUC Convener Advocate Suhas Naik said after the meeting. “The CM has sent a noting to the PWD Chief Engineer that henceforth vacancies for regular posts will be filled by workers under the PWD Society and several contractual employees employed at the department,” he said quoting Parsekar.
There are 1385 workers under the PWD Labour Supply Society, waiting to be absorbed on the payroll.
On the other set of demands, the delegation, led by AITUC General Secretary Christopher Fonseca was asked to speak to PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar.
The demands included correction in designation as due to this they are placed in wrong pay-scales and category of work. “We request that necessary corrections be made to the individual designations, grades, pay-scales and allowances immediately. The workers who do not posses qualification be placed as multi-tasking staff with a pay band of Rs 5200 and grade pay of Rs 1800 as recommended by the VI Pay Commission,” the delegation stated.
The payment of arrears from April 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 on being granted ‘temporary status,’ implementation of temporary status to those who have completed eight years in service; medical benefits, etc were also discussed.
