On this May Day, my thoughts go to the pathetic condition of the contract workers engaged in BSNL for day to day activities. Their number comes to about one lakh.
These contract workers are engaged to attend certain regular works for which posts are available but no recruitment is made. They are also engaged for other works.
The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 has clearly stipulated about the conditions under which the contract labour are to be employed, about wages, social security etc. After much persuasion from the Union, BSNL management has also issued orders fixing the minimum wages and other conditions of payment, implementation of social securities like EPF, ESI etc.
But unfortunately, except in very few circles like W.Bengal, Kolkatta, T.Nadu, Kerala etc., where the Contract Workers Unions are strong, neither the minimum wages are paid nor the social security measures are implemented. When struggles take place demanding minimum wages, the management-contractor alliance ensures that the leading workers are retrenched. In many places, a large number of workers have been retrenched. The argument of the management that there is no work has no meaning. There were work all these ten to twenty years when only meagre wages were paid, and there is no work all of a sudden when the minimum wages are to be paid! How much these workers have been exploited all these years by not giving them the due wages while the BSNL has spent the entire money . Where all these money have gone?

The contract workers organisation is weak today and requires the assistance of the unions of the regular workers. In almost each and every SSA, the struggle for minimum wages and social security measures are going to happen. It is the responsibility of the unions to support and lead the struggles of these unorganised workers in BSNL who are cheated of their rights and wages.