NALSAR Workers' Welfare Society alleges wage theft, poor working conditions of contract labourers on campus

The Workers' Welfare Society at NALSAR, Hyderabad recently held protests to highlight the deplorable state of working conditions of contract labour workers at the University..The student body constituting the NALSAR Workers' Welfare Society sought to draw the attention of the administration to the ongoing violations against workers on campus..The Society has flagged issues such as non-payment of minimum wages to the contract labourers at NALSAR, denial of any weekly paid leave, denial of any overtime pay and other social security benefits.Referring to the provisions of the NALSAR Act, a representation made by the Welfare Society states, "...section § 4 (iv), advocates for the promotion of “cultural, legal and ethical values with a view to promote and foster the rule of law and the objectives enshrined in the Constitution of India” as one of its primary objectives. However, the benefit of such provisions has clearly not yet reached our workers...".The Society has alleged that NALSAR has committed wage theft over the course of one year (2021-2022) by not paying workers their due.The table below reflects the extent of such wage theft..As per the representation, through GO No. 60 (Contracting and Outsourcing of certain services in Government Departments – Enhancement of Remuneration) issued in June 2021, the Telagana government had enhanced the wages of certain classes of workers by 30 per cent. Universities in Telangana which are outsourcing services should strictly monitor and ensure payment of a fixed remuneration by the agencies to the individuals deployed by them. Under the GO, for the Last Grade Service - which includes Office Subordinate, Attender, Gardner, Mali, Malan, Sweeper, Scavenger, Farash, and Watchman - the amount of remuneration is fixed at ₹15,600 per month, subject to future revisions. However, this GO has not been implemented for workers on campus, the Society points out.Similarly, in comparison to the minimum wage rates fixed by the Labour Department of the Government of Telangana for the period between March 2021 to April 2022, the wages paid to housekeeping and mess workers were almost half of the minimum wages they are entitled to.Going by the wages paid to these workers, the representation says that NALSAR has violated provisions of The Minimum Wages Act, 1948.Another issue flagged was the termination of a guard working on campus without a written complaint, enquiry or notice. Her termination was apparently on grounds of being 'unmarried' and talking to students, implying her implicit involvement in affairs on campus.The Society also brought into focus issues like weekly leave and leave on national holidays, non-payment of overtime wages and lack of safety equipment for cleaning washrooms..The Welfare Society has thus made the following demands from the administration:1. The GH Guard terminated must be given an apology in writing and paid one extra month’s compensation for being terminated in an unlawful and humiliating manner.2. Compliance with government orders concerning housekeeping, gardening and mess contract workers, security contract workers.3. Compensation to contract workers for their lost wages due to non-compliance with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 by the contractors (at least for the period of one year, i.e. April 2021 - March 2022).4. All contract workers must get their due paid leaves and overtime wages as per the Minimum Wages Act and its Rules, and contract labour law notifications and circulars issued by the government of Telangana.5. All contract workers to have the provision of EPF and ESI as per the notifications and circulars issued by the government of Telangana.6. Safety equipment as per the specific requirements of their job and a compensation scheme for workplace accidents must be made available.7. The University must ensure that all its contractors follow the procedure laid down for disciplinary action and termination of contract workers.8. A Grievance Redressal Committee with a membership of students, workers, and faculty members to be constituted..Speaking to Bar & Bench, a representative of the Welfare Society said,"On raising the concerns, the administration constituted a committee of two labour law professors. Both of them accepted all the demands we made. Then the administration said they can't implement the recommendations of this committee because it is only two professors and they dont know the practicalities of administration. So they kept the report aside and constituted another committee which ultimately rejected everything that the former committee recommended.".Writing to Bar & Bench, the University administration said that it would implement the recommendations of the Society from April 2023."The issues raised by the NALSAR Workers Welfare Association are being given serious consideration by the University. We are committed to social justice and to securing the rights of all the workers employed in the University. We are in the process of implementing minimum wages for housekeeping workers after the approval of the Executive Council (EC) of the University. As per the University's statutory framework, these decisions have to be considered and approved by the EC and only further to such approval, the University can implement these measures. Accordingly, the reports of both the faculty committees are due to be placed before the EC, which is scheduled to meet this month itself to consider these measures. We would then be hoping to implement the recommendations April 2023 onwards.".[Read representation here].[Read Committee report here]