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| Varsity forces workers to submit an affidavit, make them bonded labourers | | Amid pressure from higher ups, University postpones decision to disengage workers | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 15: A private University in Jammu province has postponed its decision to disengage over 32 workers amid pressure from higher ups but an affidavit sought by the varsity from the workers, which has made these workers not more than bonded labourers.
Sources informed Early Times that over 32 workers including 29 helpers and 3 Gardners, who had been working in the varsity for the last over one decade were abruptly disengaged by the varsity. Some of these workers had donated their land to the University and were assured by the authorities for engaging them on jobs.
“But we were engaged on contractual arrangement and after working for over one decade, we have been getting only Rs. 8012 per month and moreover during the COVID-19 lockdown the varsity also disengage them without any fault”, the workers said, adding that though University authorities had been giving the plea of funds shortage but when workers suggested them to provide half of salary to all workers they refused to negotiate.
The workers further said that they selectively targeted those workers, who were engaged before 2010 while those engaged recently were not touched. “After the issue was taken up with the Union Ministry though the University had agreed to shun the proposal to disengage them but the affidavit they took from the workers has made the workers most vulnerable”, the workers said.
The language in the affidavit is purely arbitrary, which gave ample opportunities to the administration to fire any worker anytime. As per the affidavit, a worker could not refuse any work at any time, given by the employer and if s/he would refuse s/he could be fired, the affidavit reads.
The first paragraph of the affidavit, which was submitted by all the 120 workers, reads, “the deponent (worker) shall abide by the duty hours as may be prescribed/notified and shall not leave the place of work till the completion of duty/job as may be assigned by the I/c Housekeeping or the concerned Head of Department/Section from time to time irrespective of expiry of duty hours.”
As per the language of affidavit it is amply clear that the workers could be exploited at any level and they would have no right to reject any work even after expiry of their duty hours. “The deponent (workers) shall abide by day to day instructions of the I/c House Keeping and Head of the Department/Section and shall remain disciplined and courteous”, it further reads.
Questioning the content of the affidavit, the workers said that it gives extreme authority to the University administration, while workers would be treated as bonded labourers. “As the varsity has already taken affidavit from all the workers, only the time will tell how the university will use such an affidavit but such affidavit is in clear violation of labour laws and the rights of the workers”, the workers said and appealed the UT administration as well as Union government to look into the matter.
Pertinently, some people had openly vented their anger against the University administration for firing the workers during the COVID-19 pandemic times. Some had also tagged the Union Ministers, after which the varsity had reversed its decision but later came up with a total authoritarian order. |
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