Powercom staff demand reinstatement of workers

Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 15

Powercom and Transco Contract Employees’ Union Punjab staged a protest in Mohali on Wednesday.

The protesting employees demanded reinstatement of retrenched workers, work order system to be immediately started in Barnala circle, contract employees should be made permanent and job and proper compensation to the family members of power workers who died due to electric shock while on duty. They laid siege to the Labour Commissioner’s office and raised slogans against the government.

Though the Punjab Government has imposed restrictions on large gatherings due to the pandemic, the contract employees staged a massive state-wide protest with their families. Widows and parents of the deceased employees were also present during the protest.

The police was deployed in a large number at the protest site to prevent any untoward incident. The protesters blocked the road disrupting the flow of traffic.

The protesters said 155 workers have died in the past four years and the state government was not providing adequate compensation to their kin.

After a meeting with the Punjab Labor Welfare Board, Mohali, the protesters called off the protest at 9 pm. The board has agreed to organise their meeting with the administrative director of Powercom, Patiala, tomorrow afternoon. The meeting of the protesters with the labour minister will be held next week.