Citizens intending to travel through Ludhiana highway near Ladhowal toll plaza are informed that the highway will be jammed as a worker’s protest is scheduled to take place starting 12 noon today. The Highway is expected to be jammed as contracted employees of various public service departments will be protesting in regards to being paid an almost negligible salary for a long period of time. All vehicles passing through the area can expect troubles passing through and police presence is expected to be a necessity at the venue.
The Protests’ leader, Varinder Singh Momi provides further information stating that the protest follows numerous demands made by contracted employees from water and sanitation, Powercom and Transco, the government thermal plant and hydel projects, Verka milk and cattle feed plants, water supply and sewerage boards, and enlistments employees and among many other regarding their working conditions and pay, none of which have been formally addressed by the government. They have called for meetings in the past which the govern ment chose to ignore, according to Momi.
Their issues include the fact that the contracted employees have been diligently working for nearly 15-20 years on almost negligent pay. Along with this, no solution to the merging of outsourced and enlisted employees with government sector employees has been found, and as a result, the worker have to call-out the government through the means of a protest. He also informs that the labour’s union have requested for a meeting with the government for addressing these issues almost 18 times in the past, but no resolution has surfaced.
The employees demand a higher pay and the merging of outsourcing and enlistment department with the government sector departments. The protest is set to start at 12 noon, and commuters can expect a heavy traffic jam; it advised to leave for your destination early. Police presence to maintain peace and tranquility is also expected.