Tura, Nov 27: Temporary employees of the Nort-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have condemned the slow pace at which the office of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central – Guwahati) has moved in their demand for equal pay for equal work for all staff that have been appointed to the university.
As per sources, at least 200 employees of the NEHU Tura Campus and many more in the Shillong campus have been continually seeking salaries appropriate to the work they are doing as contractual and permanent staff. While permanent staffs are being handsomely paid by the Institution, the pay of the temporary employees has literally been stuck in limbo.
The demand for equal pay for equal work follows directions from the Supreme Court as well as resolutions passed by the University itself of paying employees equally. Some of the employees who have been working contractually in NEHU have been doing so since the past 3 decades.
“We have been struggling to get our legal dues from the University since ages. Our fight to correct this anomaly began in 2018 and despite many letters and memos being submitted, they have continued to deny us our right. This is against the spirit of NEHU as well as against the ruling of the apex court in our country,” said one of the employees from the Tura campus.
Earlier when spoken to, the NEHU Tura campus incharge had stated that she too had recommended the hike in salaries in line with the directions of the SC and NEHU but was still awaiting a nod from the Shillong office.
The Shillong office, however, could not be contacted for comment.
“This apathy has continued for us for decades though we only raised the matter 4 years ago. Currently we have been informed that the matter has been placed before the DCLC in Guwahati but the files are moving at snail’s pace for reasons best known to them. It has been pending with them for over 3 years now,” informed another employee of the Tura campus.
The matter of the salaries of the temporary staff was also taken up by pressure groups from Tura during their meeting with VC of NEHU in December 2021 with assurances being given of the matter being taken up though that seems to have only been lip service.
“We are demanding our salary as per NEHU’s notification No.F.4-16/Estt.I/88/8419 dated 2.01.1989 and DOPT, Government of India order OM No. 49014/2/86/Estt (C) dated 7.06.1988. However there has been complete indifference and adamancy shown by the NEHU authorities on the subject leaving us with no other option than to resort to agitations,” informed the employees.
“The authorities have become immune to agitations. We are fighting a long drawn battle for the temporary employees of NEHU and are being joined by several prominent NGOs of Garo Hills, who themselves are keeping a close vigil over this issue. We will not rest until we are paid what we legally are supposed to be paid. The approach of the NEHU authorities makes no sense at all and they need to immediately course correct themselves. We too have lives and families we have to take care of and they are not making it easy for any of us,” informed the employees.
