Protests by daily wage workers in Jammu intensified on Monday as members of the All Daily Wagers Jammu and Kashmir Sangharsh Samiti staged a demonstration near the Press Club, demanding regularisation of services, implementation of minimum wages, and resolution of long-pending employment issues affecting thousands of workers across departments in the Union Territory.

The protest witnessed participation from daily rated workers, contractual employees, ASHA workers, mid-day meal cooks, sanitation workers, Village Defence Guard personnel, land donors, and other categories of temporary staff employed in different government departments. Carrying banners and placards, the protesters raised slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir administration, accusing authorities of failing to address their grievances despite repeated assurances over the years.

The demonstration was led by Sangharsh Samiti president Sunnykant Chib, who criticised the administration for what he described as continued neglect of workers who have been serving various departments for years without job security or adequate wages.

According to the protesters, the administration has repeatedly promised policy reforms and welfare measures for daily wagers, but no concrete decisions have been implemented so far. Workers claimed they have submitted multiple representations to senior officials and held several protest demonstrations in the past, yet their concerns remain unresolved.

Speaking during the protest, Chib said thousands of daily wage workers across Jammu and Kashmir continue to face uncertainty regarding their employment status and wages. He alleged that despite years of service in essential public departments, many workers are still functioning without proper service benefits, regular salaries, or social security protections.

The protesters said their demands include immediate regularisation of daily wage employees, implementation of minimum wages in accordance with labour laws, timely release of pending salaries, and formulation of a comprehensive policy for temporary and contractual workers.

The Samiti also sought welfare measures for ASHA workers, SBM workers, Mali-cum-Chowkidars, CPW workers, and other support staff engaged in government programmes and public service operations across the Union Territory.

During the demonstration, several speakers addressed the gathering and accused the administration of ignoring the struggles of workers who play a key role in maintaining public services in departments such as health, education, public works, rural development, and municipal operations.

The workers alleged that rising inflation and increasing household expenses have made survival difficult on meagre wages, particularly for those whose payments are irregular or delayed for months. Protesters said many workers are unable to support their families due to financial instability caused by delayed salaries and lack of permanent employment benefits.

The Sangharsh Samiti stated that the administration had earlier been given a deadline of May 11, 2026, to resolve the pending issues. However, with no major announcement or policy decision emerging from the government, the workers have now warned of intensifying their agitation in the coming days.

Sunnykant Chib said the organisation has repeatedly appealed to Lieutenant Governor administration officials as well as the elected government led by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to expedite decisions related to regularisation and worker welfare.

According to the Samiti leadership, if the administration fails to respond positively within the next week, workers may launch a large-scale “No Pay, No Work” movement and proceed with an indefinite hunger strike. Protest leaders warned that such action could affect operations in multiple government departments where daily wage workers form a significant part of the workforce.

The issue of regularisation of daily wage workers has remained a major political and administrative challenge in Jammu and Kashmir for several years. Thousands of temporary workers employed under different schemes and departments have repeatedly sought permanent status and equal pay protections.

Labour organisations in the region have often argued that many daily wage employees continue to work for years without formal appointment orders, pension benefits, insurance coverage, or long-term employment security. Worker unions have also highlighted disparities in wages and service conditions across departments.

The latest protest comes at a time when several employee groups and contractual staff associations in Jammu and Kashmir have been pressing the administration for policy reforms and implementation of labour welfare measures. Similar demonstrations have been witnessed in recent months over issues related to delayed salaries, contractual employment, and lack of regularisation frameworks.

Political observers note that employment and labour welfare issues are expected to remain a sensitive subject for the administration, particularly amid increasing pressure from worker unions and public sector employee associations.

The protesting workers said they are not seeking special treatment but demanding basic rights and dignified working conditions. Many participants stated that despite working under difficult conditions in public service roles, they continue to remain financially vulnerable and socially insecure.

Some workers at the protest site claimed they have spent more than a decade working in government departments on temporary arrangements without any clarity regarding future service conditions. Others alleged that the absence of clear policies has left employees uncertain about their livelihoods.

The protest near the Press Club also witnessed strong participation from younger workers, who said lack of job security continues to affect morale among employees engaged in field operations and grassroots public service delivery.

The Sangharsh Samiti appealed to the administration to hold direct dialogue with representatives of the workers and announce a time-bound roadmap for addressing their concerns. Protest leaders maintained that peaceful demonstrations would continue until meaningful action is taken.

No official response had been issued by the administration regarding the latest protest till the filing of this report.

Inputs & Images: Hindusthan Samachar

Edited By: Akshaya Polepalli

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