PHE daily-wagers demand salaries, benefits

Srinagar, Dec 25: Daily-wagers in the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department on Tuesday demanded their pending wages.

Addressing media persons here in Srinagar, President Kashmir PHE Joint Employees Association, Sajad Ahmad Parray, said the salaries of daily-wagers have been withheld for a long time.

“Those working in PHE Department as technicians, CPWs, etc. have been pushed to the wall. They are really struggling to suffice their needs. Our children face a threat of ouster from schools,” he said.

“The current liability of PHE Kashmir is Rs 129 crore. We fail to understand as to why our salaries have not been released.”

He said despite submitting biometric details under SR0-520, the daily-wagers have not been regularised.

Parray said the budget announced by the government recently did not offer anything to them.
“Rs 250 crore has been earmarked for colleges. For 1,206 water schemes, Rs 1,500 crore has been earmarked, but nothing for those running these schemes,” he said.

Parray expressed concern over the failure of the state government to extend the benefits of the seventh pay commission to them.

“Former Finance minister had assured us that amendments would be made in SRO-520. He even assured us that after permanent employees, the benefits of the seventh pay commission would be extended to us,” he said.  

They threatened to launch an agitation if their demands were not met within 10 days.