Srinagar, August 27: Jammu and Kashmir Casual Daily Wagers Forum (JKCDWF) has trained guns against the incumbent regime in the Union Territory, saying that despite employees playing key role for them to get a majority in 2024 elections, it has deceived them by not taking positive decision in favour of thousands of temporary employees.
Addressing a news conference here, Forum President Sajad Ahmad Parray announced a peaceful protest on September 1, demanding immediate action on the long-pending issue of regularisation of 61,000 daily wagers.
Parray said that on March 11, 2025, a committee headed by the Chief Secretary was constituted to prepare a roadmap for the regularisation of daily wagers and was directed to submit its report and recommendations within six months.
He said that the Chief Minister had subsequently assured the Assembly that the process of regularisation would begin during the current financial year. “However, despite the passage of 17 months, there is still no trace of the committee’s report or recommendations.”
Parray questioned why urgency was shown in matters concerning the salaries and pensions of legislators while the issue concerning thousands of daily wagers continues to remain unresolved.
He said that nearly 4.5 lakh employees, three lakh pensioners and 61,000 daily wagers, along with their dependent family members, had placed their faith in promises relating to the regularisation of daily wagers and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
“We did not vote to see daily wagers risking their lives on electric poles and in other hazardous duties, only to spend decades in service and eventually retire empty-handed,” he said, adding that in the 2024 elections, employees and their families played a significant role in helping the government secure the majority.
He said they voted for the government for the resolution of issues pertaining to the employees, but on the contrary the government preferred to hike the salaries of legislators.
Highlighting their economic distress, Parray said that surviving on a monthly remuneration of around Rs 9,000 has become nearly impossible amid rising prices, household expenses, medical costs, children’s education and increasing utility bills.
He said that successive governments and political leaderships bear responsibility for the continued plight of daily wagers. He also alleged that certain employee and trade union leaders had, at times, used the struggles and sacrifices of daily wagers to advance their own interests, while appreciating those leaders who have genuinely supported the cause with sincerity and commitment.
Parray further warned against attempts to divide the collective voice of employees. “Certain individuals have plotted and attempted to divide and fragment the collective strength of employees. The hapless daily wagers have suffered the consequences of such divisions in the past. This will not be allowed now. No conspiracy will be permitted to weaken employee unity and coordination,” he added.
The Forum President further added that unity and collective coordination were the greatest strengths of employees and daily wagers and that every attempt to create divisions would be firmly resisted.
Announcing the next course of action, Parray said that the September 1 protest would mark the first phase of a renewed, organised and decisive democratic struggle against prolonged delay, injustice and the failure to fulfil promises made to the daily-wager community.
He appealed to the Chief Minister to honour the commitment made in the election manifesto and the assurance given on the floor of the Assembly regarding regularisation.
The Forum also appealed to all daily wagers working under different nomenclatures and in various departments to remain united and prepare for a sustained democratic struggle, including peaceful protests, hunger strikes and work-stoppage programmes, if the government continues to delay a just and permanent solution.
