“The government, which is expected to be a model employer, is exploiting contract and outsourced workers by engaging them for several jobs in its departments, including those of a permanent nature,” State general secretary of CITU and honorary president of the Karnataka State Electricity Workers’ Federation S. Varalakshmi has alleged.

Speaking after inaugurating the Hescom Zonal Workers’ Convention of the Karnataka State Electricity Workers’ Federation here on Friday, Ms. Varalakhsmi said that the government was not implementing the principle of equal pay for equal work. On the contrary, it had withheld the implementation of the recently revised minimum wages, thereby betraying workers, she said.

Ms. Varalakshmi urged the government to enact the necessary legislation to regularise contract and outsourced employees. She said they were facing severe hardships and exploitation and were, in effect, living under a form of bonded labour.

State president of Karnataka State Electricity Workers’ Federation J. Satyababu said that a State-level convention of workers employed in the power generation, supply and distribution sectors would be held in Bengaluru on September 29 to press for the implementation of revised minimum wages, regularisation of services and other demands.

National president of EEFI Sudeep Dutta and CITU national general secretary Elamaram Kareem would participate in the convention, he said.

CITU State secretary Mahesh Pattar, bar council members Basavaraj Korimath, Veeresh Kumbhar, Doddappa Bolakatti, Hanamantappa Mittal, Basavaraj and Chandru Benakanahalli were among those present.