HC allows TNEB to implement regularisation of contract workers

Chennai, Sep 7 (UNI) The Madras High Court has allowed the Electricity Board to implement its settlement with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Workers' Progressive Union with regard to the regularisation of 21,600 contract workers.

A Division Bench, comprising Justices Elippi Dharma Rao and Tamizhvanan gave the interim order, while posting the main petition to January next for further hearing, Union General Secretary C Rathinasabapathy said.

In a statement here, he said the Bench directed the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) to implement the settlement reached under section 12(3) of Industrial Dispute Act and absorb 6,000 contract workers as mazdoor-grade II in the first phase by September 15.

In the second phase, the board should absorb 6,000 other contract workers as temporary casual labourers at the rate of Rs 70 per day on or before December 1, 2007. The board should recover Provident Fund from these workers and provide them identity cards, he said quoting the bench.

He said the bench had directed the board to absorb all the 21,600 contract workers by 2009. These workers have been working with the TNEB for five to ten years, he said.

Mr Rathinasabapathy thanked Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy for giving a fresh lease of life to these contract workers. Only after the assurances given by the Chief Minister and Mr Veerasamy, the TNEB came forward for the settlement.

UNI