This is a personal appeal to all the BSNL workers and their unions to help the casual and contract labour in getting justice from the hands of the BSNL Management and the contractors who are employing them.
As per present Labour Acts as also the orders issued by the Government and BSNL Corporate Office, Casual and Contract Labour engaged for works in the BSNL are eligible for getting the minimum wage, social security measures like EPF & ESI, maintaing records of their engagements etc. However, the situation in the field is a different story. In most of the places the labours are paid about half of the minimum wages, social security measures are not implemented and and hire and fore is going on. Those who demand wages or for their other rights are retrenched. It is shameful that in a prestigious PSU like BSNL, where strong and militant trade unions are there, this kind of exploitation of labour is taking place.
This can be changed only if the regular workerss’ unions take up and fight against this injustice. I would, therefore, request all the leaders and workers of the existing unions to take up this issue in right earnest and help the exploited casual and contract labour who are working at your place.