Imphal Airport staff allege threat by contractor
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 20 2012:
EES (Emergency Essential Services) Staff members of Airport Authority of India, Imphal (AAII) have alleged threat by an AAII contractor to terminate their service in case the staff members do not accept reduction in wage amount.
Speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today, ESS Staff supervisor Geeta Maibam explained that as per AAII practice engagement of labourers for menial tasks at the Airport are assigned to contractors every year.
Consequently, one Kangjam Nilabir Singh (KN Singh) s/o K Pishak Singh of Malom Bazar got the contract for next year (2013), said the supervisor while claiming that KN Singh intimated to the staff that they to have append signatures signifying receipt of Rs 6000 each as monthly wages even though their actual amount would be less than the amount specified.
The contractor is also said to have insisted that those who agree with the said condition (reduced payment) will be retained as staff members and those opposed would be terminated from service.
Geeta further disclosed that Nilabir has been offering Rs 3000 each with another sum of Rs 500 to be put aside as EPF money in his own (bank) account.
Even though Nilabir's insistence/condition has been highlighted to the AAII Joint General Manager, AAI, Guwahati Regional Executive Director and AAI Workers' Union, authorities concerned are yet to take any relevant measures instead confiding to them that action, if any, would be initiated only when the contractor enforces his condition, she maintained.
The present strength of ESS Staff is said to be 10, including six females.
According to the supervisor, Nilabir's previous terms (2010, 2011) for the same task was marked with discrimination against the manual workers as their wage amount was never consistent or uniform.
On behalf of the workers, she appealed to authority concerned for annulling decision to engaged Nilabir as the contractor an his conduct is detrimental to interest of the working class.