The administration and the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are divided over whether students should be involved in organizing the over 1,200 contract workers employed on the campus as guards, sanitary workers, gardeners for implementation of labour laws on campus. On July 23, the Chief Proctor issued an advisory to the students against this.
The advisory comes weeks after the students, contract workers, and members of JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) and All India Students' Union (ASIA) organized “Dera Dalo”, in which over 400 contract workers sat on a three-week long sit-in protest at the Administration Block of the university in their non-work hours in June demanding timely payment of salaries by first week of every month, Provident Fund (PF) benefits as specified in the contracts between the multiple contractors and JNU, and weekly offs.
“It has been decided by the University that the students are advised not to interfere in the work of the service provider and avoid interference with the workers of the service provider,” reads the advisory signed by the Chief Proctor PC Rath.
“The violation of the rights of the contractual workers is a serious concern of not only JNUSU, but also the entire JNU community. This concern is going to decide the model of the university we give to ourselves,” noted JNUSU Vice President Anubhuti.
JNU employs 1,247 contract workers as guards, sanitary workers, gardeners through seven contracting agencies, besides several construction workers. Following complains of pilferage of PF dues by several workers, the students have organized three PF Camps at the camps with the administration's help since 2012, most recently this June following the 20-days “Dera Dalo.”
“As per agreement, wage is Rs. 4419, then total PF deduction should be Rs. 494. But Rs 406 paid (a loss of Rs 88 per month to the worker)...allowances is very high at 68.79 per cent and the salary structure is bifurcated this way to evade PF liabilities,” noted Assistant PF Commissioner Paritosh Kumar in a report in November 2012 noting pilferage of PF dues of security guards hired through M/S Security and Intelligence Services (I) Ltd. on JNU campus after a PF camp organized with the students' help. “Establishment (SIS) charges PF on higher wages from clients but remits lesser amounts by resorting to splitting up of wages,” the Employee Provident Fund Organization officials had noted after examining salary sheets and bills from November 2010 to September 2012. SIS continues to provide over 300 guards to the campus at a cost of Rs 55 lakhs to the university, said a university official.
Registrar Dr. Sandeep Chatterjee declined to comment on the issue of these irregularities, even while senior officials said the July 23 advisory had been issued after the Registrar requested this.
“There was a note from the Registrar approved by the VC and Rector to issue this advisory to students. The administration is not against the workers' rights but the work of the university should not be affected,” said Chief Proctor PC Rath.
“Why do we ask the students? Because the administration does not respond. We work in difficult conditions without any offs and still do not get salary not on time,” said a 35-year old security guard with SIS.
