In a powerful demonstration, hostel workers in Dharwad took to the streets on Wednesday, advocating for the permanent regularization of their contract services in government-run hostels. Their key demands also included the immediate implementation of revised minimum wages.
Organized by the Karnataka Rajya Samyukta Vasati Nilaya Karmikara Sangha, an affiliate of AIUTUC, the protest was held outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. A central demand was the complete overhaul of the outsourced agency system, proposing its replacement with district-level cooperative societies to ensure fair employment practices.
Addressing the passionate gathering, district unit president Gangadhar Badiger implored the State government to act swiftly and officially declare the long-overdue revised minimum wages without any further delay.
Badiger highlighted the severe exploitation faced by employees under the current outsourced agency model, detailing how these agencies routinely deny basic legal benefits such as an eight-hour workday, Provident Fund (PF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), and paid holidays. He expressed frustration, noting that despite the State government’s promise eight months ago to establish multipurpose cooperative societies, with Dharwad slated for the initial phase, no concrete action has yet been taken.
Key leaders from AIUTUC, including vice-president Bhuvana Ballari, Shainaz Hudedmani, Gangamma Naganayak, Kusuma Veerkar, and Geeta Bommannavar, were instrumental in orchestrating the protest.
Following the demonstration, a formal memorandum was presented to the district authorities, addressed to the Chief Minister, urging prompt resolution of critical district-level concerns.
The memorandum specifically called upon the State government to enhance essential infrastructure at the ESI Hospital in Hubballi, take decisive action against negligent contractors, ensure the appointment of at least 11 cooking staff in all residential schools and colleges established post-2017, and facilitate an urgent meeting of officials from various departments to comprehensively address outstanding local issues.