NC will never allow discrimination against employees: Dr Farooq

Srinagar, July 10: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the party is committed to ensuring the protection of employees and preventing any form of discrimination against them.
He said this while presiding over a one-day convention of the party’s Trade Union wing of Kashmir province at the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subh here, the NC said in a statement issued here.
The event was organised by the convenor of the Trade Union Wing, Haji Ghulam Nabi Wani Tailbali. Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, and senior leaders Mohammad Shafi Uri, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sharif-ud-Din Shariq, Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, Adv Showkat Mir, Jagdesh Singh Azad, and Ghulam Nabi Bhat were present on the occasion.
Interacting with trade union leaders, Dr Farooq said, “It was a travesty that those who work tirelessly to support our communities are being undervalued and disregarded. The time has come for their voices to be heard and their demands to be met. The dedicated scheme workers, such as Anganwadi workers, helpers, and ASHAs, are forced to toil away for meagre wages. They have been tirelessly advocating for fair compensation or a stable salary for years, yet their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.”
Similarly, the Mid-Day Meal Workers, CPWs, MGNREGA employees, contractual workers, HDF workers, construction workers, Need-Based workers, ABPMJAY workers, as well as seasonal and casual labourers, are all being overlooked and their urgent needs continue to be ignored, he added.
Emphasising the urgent need for implementation of the Minimum Wages Act, the former chief minister urged the government to set the minimum wage at Rs 26,000 per month for all casual labourers, seasonal workers, contract workers, daily labourers, transport workers, and employees in various industries and shops.
He implored the party trade union leaders to tirelessly advocate for the concerns of employees. “The government’s promises to implement the Minimum Wages Act and regularise contractual employees have fallen short. However, when the NC government takes power, we will make unwavering efforts to tackle this issue and guarantee equality among employees,” he said.