Dimapur, August 11 (MExN): The All Nagaland PWD (R&B) and (H) Work-Charged Employees Association (ANPWDWCEA) has refuted and condemned the press release dated July 17, 2010 issued by the President and General Secretary of the All Nagaland PWD Field Workers Association (ANPWDFWA) under the caption “ANPWDFWA plea for revoking commission.”
According to a press note issued by the ANPWDWCEA, the duo has not only created confusion in the minds of the work-charged employees but has also maligned the Nagaland Work-Charged and Casual Employees Commission headed by CJ Ponraj, the Principal Secretary (Home) and Chairman of the Commission. The press note of the ANPWDWCEA was issued by Khrilakuo Mepfuo President, Kuhoshe Swu General Secretary and Zhekheli Zhimomi Legal Counsel. The press note has clarified to all the work-charged employees of the State in particular and the public in general on the matter.
The ANPWDWCEA pointed out that in order to raise what it termed as the “inhuman wages” of Rs 750/- of labours the Association had filed a writ petition before the court. The State government on February 2, 2010 produced notification dated November 30 2009 before the court revising the wages of labours to Rs 2000/- per month with effect from December 1, 2009 while waiting for the final recommendation of the Work-Charged and Casual Employees Commission. It was informed that the petitioners rejected the revised rate and prayed for higher rate as they were State employees or at least at par prescribed by the Central Government from time to time under the Minimum Wages Act 1948.
Accordingly the ANPWDWCEA informed that by a common order dated February 2, 2010 the court disposed off the two writ petitions with a direction to the State government to finalize fixation of wages of work-charged and casual employees within a period of six months while grating liberty to the association to approach the court again if still aggrieved by the final recommendation of the commission. And since six months time period given by the court was elapsing, an enquiry was made by the association on the final exercise and that it was found that the commission had proposed to tentatively enhance the wages of fixed paid labours at Rs 3000/- per month for PWD and PHED while at the same time also proposing to revise the wages of all fixed paid work-charged and casual employees of all other departments such as typist, peon, chowkidar, mali etc. This was to be done by grading them into three categories grade-III-Rs 4000/- per month; grade-III (driver)-Rs 3600/- per month and Grade-IV-Rs 3000/- per month.
The ANPWDWCEA however alleged that without ascertaining the fact, Inakhu and Atovi had called a meeting on July 23, 2010 at Dimapur and told the work-charged employees that the Commission was reducing the scales of pay of all the work-charged employees to Rs 3000, Rs 3600 and Rs 4000/ per month and consequently “despotically issued an ultimatum to the government to immediately revoke the work-charged and casual employees Commission or face consequences”. This according to the ANPWDWCEA was “absurd and uncalled for.”
In this regard the ANPWDWCEA on behalf of all the work-charged employees of the State, the All Nagaland PWD (R&B) and (H) Work Charged Employees Association has apologized to the Chairman and members of the Nagaland Work-Charged and Casual Employees Commission for the “unsolicited inflammatory statements lashed out by unscrupulous persons discrediting the judicious action of the Commission in formulating parity of existing different rates of fixed paid work charged and casual employees in the State.”
It was also clarified to all the work charged employees of the State that the Commission had never intended to reduce the salaries of work charged employees who are enjoying scale pay. It further clarified that the fixation of Rs 3000, Rs 3600 and Rs 4000 per month in the minutes of the Commission’s 1st meeting dated June 15, 2010 and which was sent to all the Executive Engineers of the divisions, will in no way affect the scale pay employees, in fact of in law. It also stated that the Commission requiring detail work charged scale and fixed paid employees of PWD was for assessment of financial implications and for positive action.
The ANPWDWCEA also informed that the Commission’s proposed fixation was only revising the wages of fixed paid employees of all the departments in the state who are presently being paid a meagre sum of Rs 750 to Rs 3000 as the highest. It was informed that the PWD (H) and PHED has already implemented the notification dated November 30 2009 which was placed before the court and the labours are getting Rs 2000 per month with effect from December 1, 2009. However, the PWD (R&B) labours are yet to be effected by the authority even while the Commission has already proposed to raise the wages of labours to Rs 3000 per month for both the department.
To avoid unnecessary confusions and discord between the government and the work charged employees as in the present case, the ANPWDWCEA stated that individuals, groups, associations are henceforth cautioned not to meddle in the work charged employees matter as they have their own registered association. Further the ANPWDWCEA also cautioned those employees whose appointment orders are work charged and also not to be misled by such devious persons and seek information if any from the work charged association. Finally, the PWD and officials have been requested to keep vigil of individuals, groups associations who are always on the prowl to financially exploit the work charged employees pointing out that this was the “root cause of so many hassles.”
