Make Contract Workers Permanent or Provide Equal Pay – R. Manasayya
Contract Workers Raichur District Conference Successfully Concluded
The imperialist economic policies followed by the Central and State governments have turned labor power into the cheapest available commodity today. While the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed, the wages of workers have plummeted to the depths.
Even in government departments, the lowest wage system is currently in practice. Workers in Delhi and Noida, who were fighting for minimum wages, were attacked by the police and imprisoned. The ruling class loses its temper the moment workers demand fair pay for their labor. The “wage theft” system—extracting maximum work for minimum pay—has become the accepted policy of both BJP and Congress governments
Consequently, for the past two to three decades, lakhs of workers across all departments in Karnataka have been working as “bonded laborers” under the outsourcing system. For the same work where a permanent employee would earn between ₹40,000 to ₹70,000 per month, a contract worker is paid less than ₹10,000 to ₹15,000. This is the ultimate robbery of labor power. This contract system must be abolished immediately, and all long-serving contract workers must be made permanent. Until then, as per Article 141 of the Indian Constitution and Section 25 (2)(v)(a) of the Contract Labour (Abolition and Regulation) Rules, 1971, all contract workers must receive pay equal to that of permanent employees.
These demands were made by Comrade R. Manasayya, National General Secretary of the Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI). He was speaking today, April 24, 2026, after inaugurating the Raichur District Contract Workers’ Convention organized by the TUCI District Committee at the Pandit Siddarama Jambaladinni Rangamandira in Raichur.
Key Highlights from the Convention:
* Comrade M. Gangadhar (State Secretary, TUCI): In his introductory speech, he emphasized that without the unity of Group C and Group D employees and workers across all departments, it is impossible to drive out the outsourcing system.
* Suresh Bhadravathi (Journalist): Noted that the exploitation of labor has crossed all limits. He stressed the need for awareness campaigns, as many contract workers do not fully grasp the cruelty of the system. He urged workers not to be deceived by the false promises of the ruling class, stating that “struggle is the only way forward.”
* Comrade M.D. Amir Ali (State President, TUCI): Critiqued the illegal labor practices of the State and Central governments. He argued that the working class needs a revolutionary political ideology rather than reformist or opportunistic politics.
Participation and Leadership:
Leaders from various sectors, including Health (Group D), Community Health, RIMS Staff Nursing, KREIS Residential Schools, Wind Power, Agricultural University, Tungabhadra Irrigation, MGNREGA, and Hutti Gold Mines, shared their views and solidarity during the event.
The convention featured cultural programs by RCF artists including Comrade Adesh Hirenaganur and others. The event was presided over by Comrade G. Adivirao (District President, TUCI) and conducted by Comrade D.K. Lingsugur (District Secretary TUCI). Comrade M. Niranjan Kumar delivered the welcome address.
Future Resolution:
The convention concluded with a significant resolution to organize a Kalyana Karnataka-level Contract Workers’ Convention in Kalaburagi in December 2026.
