A large number of daily wagers and contractual employees, along with their children, staged a protest on Thursday demanding regularisation of their services in the Jammu and Kashmir government.
The protest was organised by the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) at Sher-e-Kashmir Municipal Park, where demonstrators held a sit-in and raised slogans such as “We want justice” and “Sadda haq ithe rakh” (give us our rights).
Addressing the gathering, EJAC leaders said the Omar Abdullah government should not continue in office if it fails to fulfil the commitments made to employees regarding regularisation and job security.
They said daily wagers and casual labourers form the backbone of several government departments that deliver essential public services, including electricity and drinking water, and yet continue to work without permanent status or benefits.
According to the employee representatives, more than 60,000 workers in Jammu and Kashmir have been serving as daily wagers for many years and are seeking immediate regularisation of their services.
