Contract workers in the Indian water industry
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(2008) The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board Workers’ Union in India has demanded the regularisation of contract workers and measures to fill new vacancies. The board had appointed a number of contract workers since 1998 to staff water supply schemes. The union considered the board should have appointed permanent staff to maintain the schemes. The contract workers were very low-paid despite 12-16 hours working days. The union asked that these workers be regularised with effect from their first working day on a contract basis. The State Government has issued an order for the filling up of 2,037 vacancies in order to have enough workers to maintain drinking water schemes. Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said that the Labour Conference scheduled to be held in New Delhi in the next weeks will discuss problems faced by contract workers and discuss whether the introduction of a comprehensive act is needed to protect their interests.