CITU Protests Across Andhra Pradesh Demanding Wage Revision and Regularisation of Contract Workers
Members of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and workers held demonstrations across Andhra Pradesh, including a sit-in protest outside the NTR District Collectorate in Vijayawada. The trade union is demanding the regularisation of contract and outsourced employees, the implementation of a Minimum Time Scale, and an immediate revision of minimum wage rates for scheduled employments.
What Happened
On Thursday, CITU activists gathered outside district collectorates throughout Andhra Pradesh to protest against the state government’s delay in revising minimum wage structures. Speaking at the demonstration in Vijayawada, CITU State president Ch. Narasinga Rao and general secretary A.V. Nageswara Rao stated that around 50 lakh workers in scheduled employments face ongoing exploitation because their wages have not been updated. The union leaders noted that although regulations mandate a wage revision for the 71 designated Scheduled Employments every five years, 12 years have elapsed since the last revision took place.
The leaders highlighted that roughly 4 lakh contract and outsourced workers are currently employed across various government departments. CITU demanded that the government regularise these positions, implement the Minimum Time Scale, and increase the minimum pay for unskilled workers to ₹26,000. Trade union representatives warned that if these key demands are not fulfilled immediately, they will organize a broader strike.
Key Highlights
- Protests were staged outside the NTR District Collectorate in Vijayawada and other collectorates across Andhra Pradesh.
- CITU stated that minimum wages for 71 Scheduled Employments have not been updated for 12 years, despite rules requiring revisions every five years.
- Around 50 lakh employees in scheduled employments are affected, including 4 lakh contract and outsourced workers in state government departments.
- Demands include regularisation of contract staff, implementation of the Minimum Time Scale, and a pay increase to ₹26,000 for unskilled workers.
- Union leaders criticized the state government for prioritizing investors over the needs of the working class.
Why This Matters
The demonstration highlights long-standing labor issues affecting millions of scheduled employment workers and lakhs of government department contract staff across the state. CITU emphasized that sustainable state development is not possible while neglecting the working-class sections responsible for executing key operational work.
What to Watch Next
CITU has warned the state government that trade unions will initiate a larger state-wide strike if their demands regarding wage revision and regularisation are not addressed immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary demands made by CITU?
CITU is demanding the regularisation of all outsourced and contract workers, the implementation of the Minimum Time Scale, a pay increase for unskilled workers to ₹26,000, and a overdue revision of minimum wages for scheduled employments.
How many workers are affected according to trade union leaders?
CITU leaders stated that approximately 50 lakh employees work in scheduled employments, including around 4 lakh contract and outsourced staff working in government departments.
When were minimum wages last revised for scheduled employments in Andhra Pradesh?
According to CITU, minimum wages for the 71 Scheduled Employments were last revised 12 years ago, despite rules requiring updates every five years.
Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu.