Outsourced workers employed by Karnataka’s power department have announced an indefinite strike from October 5, demanding minimum wages, job security and insurance benefits. The protest will be held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru under the leadership of the KPTCL and ESCOM Outsourced Workers’ Welfare Forum.
Forum president M.S. Leelasagar announced the decision at a press conference on Thursday. He said the workers would continue working while wearing black badges until October 4, before joining the indefinite protest from October 5.
The workers’ demands cover wages as well as employment conditions. Leelasagar alleged that employees engaged in meter-reading work were being paid in conditions comparable to bonded labour. The report did not provide the current wage levels or the number of workers expected to participate in the strike.
The forum has also sought service security and insurance coverage for outsourced employees. It is additionally demanding double wages for work performed on holidays. These demands point to the role of outsourced labour in routine electricity-sector functions, including meter reading, while highlighting the distinction between the work performed and the employment protections available to those workers.
KPTCL is Karnataka’s power transmission company, while ESCOMs operate electricity distribution services in different parts of the state. The workers’ forum has not, in the supplied report, detailed whether the proposed protest will affect meter reading or other electricity-related services, and no response from the power department or the utilities was reported.
The immediate next step is the workers’ black-badge protest through October 4, followed by the indefinite strike at Freedom Park from October 5. Further details on negotiations, participation and any response from the authorities were not available in the report.
