The contractual employees of the power distribution company, Central Electricity Supply Company of Orissa (Cesu) have demanded the regularization of their jobs. They stated that the other facilities like wages, holidays, hours of work and conditions of service for the contractual workers should be at par with the regular employees of the company.
These demands were made by the contractual employees who under the banner of the Orissa State Electricity Board (OSEB) Employees Federation staged a dharna here today in front of Cesu's office. The federation also submitted a memorandum to the state energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak seeking fulfillment of its demands. The federation alleged that Cesu had hired high paid officers without any utility while the interests of the contractual employees were ignored.
“Cesu is completely dependent on its contractual workers for its operation and maintenance work, customer service and revenue collection. These workers who perform the core work of the company are given only Rs 2000-3500 per month”, said Jatindra K Ray, general secretary, OSEB Employees Federation. As per the law, the contractual workers are entitled to the same wages, holidays, hours of work and conditions of service as applicable to the workers directly employed by the company on the same nature of work, he added.