In a significant move concerning labour rights, Member of Parliament from Trichy, Durai Vaiko, held a crucial meeting with Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H D Kumaraswamy, on Saturday. The central agenda was to press for the immediate implementation of a Madras High Court directive aimed at regularising the services of more than a thousand contract workers employed at the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) unit in Trichy.
A Long-Standing Battle for Regularisation
The issue of regularising these contract workers is not new and has been a point of contention for several years. The workers, engaged through the Bhel Cooperative Labour Contract Society, have long argued that the society functions merely as a nominal entity. In reality, their work has been consistently carried out within the premises and under the direct supervision of the BHEL Trichy unit itself. This prolonged dispute eventually led to a legal battle, culminating in a favourable order from the Madras High Court.
Details of the High Court Directive
In his representation to Minister Kumaraswamy, Durai Vaiko outlined the specifics of the court's decision. The Madras High Court order explicitly directs BHEL to regularise the services of the affected contract workers. Crucially, the regularization is to be granted with continuity of service, meaning their employment tenure would be considered unbroken. Furthermore, the order mandates that the workers receive wages and benefits from the date they initially raised the formal dispute regarding their status.
This legal victory was the result of a persistent struggle by the workers and their unions, who have been seeking job security and parity with permanent employees for a long time. The MP's intervention highlights the transition of the issue from the judicial arena to the administrative domain, seeking executive action to enforce the court's verdict.
The Path Forward and Administrative Action
By taking the matter directly to the Union Minister overseeing the heavy industries portfolio, Durai Vaiko has escalated the demand for justice. The ball is now in the court of the ministry and BHEL management to comply with the judicial directive. The regularization of over 1,000 workers would have a substantial impact on their livelihoods, providing them with the stability and benefits associated with permanent employment at the major public sector undertaking.
The meeting underscores the critical role of elected representatives in following up on judicial orders to ensure they are translated into tangible outcomes for citizens. The workers and their unions now await concrete steps from the Heavy Industries Ministry and BHEL to finally resolve this years-old issue, bringing an end to their protracted fight for employment security.
