SHILLONG, Aug 22: The All NEHU Workers’ Union (ANWU) has asked the varsity authority to constitute a joint body of experts for studying all Central notifications as regards court orders and other constitutional documents to arrive at a principled framework for regularisation.
Stating that a proposal towards this effect was submitted earlier to the Grievances and Redressal Committee, ANWU general secretary Tenny Shabong said according to the proposal, the joint body of experts will be constituted by drawing five members from NEHU and five from the union.
“If this is accepted, the very first hurdle for regularisation could be purposely resolved. We urge the Vice Chancellor (Prabha Shankar Shukla) to take urgent steps and communicate the same in writing to the union,” Shabong said.
According to him, the union resumed its silent protest-cum-hunger strike on August 18 as the NEHU authority failed to provide written assurances pertaining to the status report of regularisation and implementation of equal pay for equal work. “It is the union representative who suggested the dealing assistant in the committee to engage some casual workers for compiling the data if needed, so as to make the work progressive, not as stated by the PRO, Davidson Pyngrope,” the ANWU general secretary said.
According to official figures, the wages per day paid to the NEHU’s casual employees include Rs 553 (unskilled), Rs 625 (semi-skilled), Rs 734 (skilled) and Rs 806 (highly skilled workers).
The monthly pay of an unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled casual employee is Rs 19,202, Rs 21,443, Rs 24,084 and Rs 26,936 respectively. The casual employees of all categories also get 13% EPF and 3% ESI.
Reacting to this, Shabong said as per an RTI application filed by the union’s legal adviser, the total number of casual employees directly appointed by the NEHU is 362 – 323 are from Shillong and 39 from Tura Campus.
According to him, the actual pay of these workers is Rs 17,430 (unskilled), Rs 19,680 (semi-skilled), Rs 23,100 (skilled) and Rs 25,380 (highly skilled) respectively (without deduction of 12% EPF and 1.75% ESI) as per Ministry of Labour.
Shabong mentioned that the NEHU administration claims that these categories of workers also get 13% EPF and 3% ESI benefits, whereas the truth is EPF contribution of the casual employees is 12% and ESI is 1.75%.
Meanwhile, Shabong said the statement made by the VC as regards the implementation of equal pay for equal work says it is only on specific appointees for a specific sanctioned post. The ANWU general secretary said it needs to be examined.
“The fact is all the casual workers are performing the day to day duties/works that are equivalent to that of a regular staff, NEHU falling under sanctioned post and hence, they are entitled to equal pay for equal work. As per section 16 of Minimum Wages Act of 1948, NEHU thus does not follow the principle of equal pay for equal work,” Shabong said.
He demanded that the NEHU authority begins the due process of regularisation of services.
Stating that the union’s general body meeting lays great confidence in the wisdom and leadership of the incumbent VC, he said the union has found the current Negotiation Committee under the chairmanship of SB Prasad has failed miserably to address the issue of workers.
Earlier, the VC had said the university would submit a proposal on the regularisation of the services of casual workers to the Ministry of Education. He had told reporters it is up to the ministry to take a call on the issue, not the university authority.
