Workers in Perumbakkam Panchayat participated in the protest on Saturday, demanding a schedule pay. |Picture source: R. Ravindran
Temporary personnel belonging to several Panchayats are protesting their work outsourcing. These staff have been working in 15 Panchayats for protection personnel, tank operators, drivers, electricians and computer assistants, including Perumbakkam, Sithalapakkam, Sithalapakkam, Ottiyambakkam, Medavakkam, Vengaivasal, Tirusoolam and Koilbakkam, and have been working for ten years.
“Some people have been working for over 30 years every day. Today, these men and women earn Rs 546 a day without other benefits such as PF or ESI. Our salary is paid from the first account. We have been told that we will be required to work under the leadership of the contractor and will be considered outsourcing,” a worker.
Another worker said their services had been exploited during the cyclone, flood and the 19th pandemic. “We have kept the blinds at home, provided medicines and even buried those who died from Kuved. We don’t have work hours, but work on holidays and weekends. But now we are showing the doors in a pretty bad way,” he said.
About 300 people urged the government to continue working or invest time-scale wages. In some Panchayats, staff have already worked in routine work including water supply and protection.
Sholinganallur MLA Aravind Ramesh said the issue will be paid attention to the relevant minister and chief minister MK Stalin. “We hope to achieve positive results,” he added.
publishing – April 13, 2025 at 12:30 am IST
