AP Govt contract staff stages stir

Tirupati: The government employees working on outsourcing and contract basis in various departments on Monday staged a dharna at RDO office here to press the government concede their demands. 

The protest was held under the banner of AP Government Contract and Outsourcing Employees, Teachers and Workers JAC, which was formed recently to intensify the struggle by the employees to achieve all their demands. 

Speaking on the occasion, JAC Chairman Gandikota Naga Venkatesh said that there are about three lakh contract and outsourcing employees working state-wide in various government departments and also state and central schemes.

Though the services of the employees ranging from 4-18 years and rendering work on par with regular employees, they are forced to work for meagre salaries without any other benefits despite the Supreme Court responding to a petition directed the states follow the equal pay for equal work norm.

Later, a delegation of JAC met RDO Narasimhulu and submitted a memorandum to the government on the ten demands of the employees. The demands are hiking salaries of contract and outsourcing employees, extending 180 days maternity leave to women employees, DA, health card and bus pass facility, stopping work contract and service outsourcing system, payment of salary regularly on first of every month etc.