Daily wagers stage protest in Handwara, demand regularisation, minimum wages

Kupwara, Nov 6: Members of the All Daily Wagers J&K Sangarsh Samiti, including the District Kupwara Cook Union of the Education Department, on Thursday staged a protest at Chinar Park, Handwar, demanding implementation of the Minimum Wages Act and regularisation of their services.

The protestors, many of them women, expressed anger over what they described as the government’s prolonged indifference toward their genuine demands. They said that despite working for years on daily wages, performing duties similar to regular employees, they continue to face financial insecurity and a lack of recognition.

“We have been serving the department for years at par with regular staff, but without any job security or fair pay. The authorities have pushed our families into economic distress,” said one of the protesting women. Another protestor said they were only seeking what was rightfully theirs under the law. “We are not asking for anything special, only that the Minimum Wages Act be implemented in letter and spirit,” she said.

The protestors urged the government to take immediate steps to regularise their services and ensure strict enforcement of minimum wage laws across Jammu and Kashmir. They said that thousands of daily wagers and cooks working in the Education Department and other government sectors have been waiting for years for job regularisation and a fair pay structure.

They also sought the personal intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo to resolve their long-pending issues. “We have waited long enough. It is time the government recognises our service and ensures justice,” said another protestor.

The demonstration passed off peacefully, with union representatives warning that they would intensify their agitation if their demands continued to be ignored. They said the daily wagers’ struggle for dignity and fair treatment would continue until the government fulfils its commitments.