New Delhi, Feb 12: Member of Parliament (MP) Baramulla, Engineer Rashid on Thursday made a strong and emotional appeal to the Union Government, urging it not to “strangle” the livelihoods of daily wagers, contractual and consolidated employees. He warned that development built on their suffering would amount to grave injustice.
Speaking in Parliament, the AIP Chief said that irrespective of who owns the wealth or who builds grand structures, every palace is ultimately constructed on the sweat and blood of workers. “If we fail to respect their labour and sacrifice, it will be a great injustice,” he said.
Drawing attention to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the MP said the House would be shocked to learn that thousands of daily wagers, contractual and consolidated employees, working in factories, workshops and government departments have remained unregularised for decades. “Many of them were engaged in their youth, their children are now in their twenties and the employees themselves have crossed fifty years of age, yet continue to be denied regular status,” he said.
Sharing a personal example, Er Rashid said he himself worked in the public sector in 2008 and even after leaving the job fourteen years ago, dues in his area remain unpaid till date. This, he said, reflected the harsh realities faced by daily wagers and contractual staff.
Citing the saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he reminded the House that wages must be paid before the sweat dries and questioned why even the right to strike is being taken away from such employees.
The MP urged the government to bring, if not immediately, then at least in the near future, a national policy for the regularisation of daily wagers, contractual and consolidated employees working in factories, semi government organisation and government departments, so that families forced to survive on uncertainty can earn dignified livelihoods.
Er Rashid also raised serious concern over the condition of porters working along border areas, from Karnah to Kanyakumari, who serve alongside the Army and BSF but whose rights remain completely unprotected. He cited cases from Baramulla where porters lost their lives while on duty and received only token compensation with no proper rehabilitation and demanded statutory protection of their rights.
Highlighting the plight of employees in the unorganised sector, he questioned the adequacy of the minimum wage, asking what could possibly be managed on ₹350 per day. He pointed out that even inside Parliament, sanitation staff who repeatedly greet MPs are themselves denied dignified wages, despite being an essential but unorganised workforce.
The AIP chief further criticised the functioning of labour courts and labour administration, stating that accident victims are forced to wander for justice when daily wagers or contractual employees lose limbs or suffer serious injuries at workplaces. “Labour courts and designated officials often treat such postings casually, resulting in denial of timely relief,” he alleged.
Er Rashid further warned that economic growth figures and trillion-dollar dreams are meaningless if achieved by crushing daily wagers, contractual and consolidated employees. “Do not choke them,” he appealed. “Whether the palace is yours or the wealth belongs to someone else, it is built on their blood and sweat. Ignoring their rights will be a grave injustice.”
