PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The federation of Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL) workers have welcomed the decision of Uttarakhand cabinet to give the benefit of ‘equal pay for equal work’ principle to them. On Thursday, the cabinet had endorsed the proposal of the cabinet subcommittee to provide the aforesaid benefit to the UPNL workers who have completed 10 years of service.
A delegation of the federation of UPNL workers led by its president Vinod Godiyal met the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his residence on Friday and expressed gratitude for the cabinet decision. Congratulating them the CM said that the UPNL workers are an important link of the administrative system in the State. He said that the State government is working with sensitivity on all issues related to employees. Terming the decision as the outcome of employee friendly policy, Dhami said that the State government is committed to protect the interests of the UPNL workers.
The delegation also met the Soldier Welfare minister Ganesh Joshi at his residence on the day. The UPNL workers thanked Joshi for supporting their cause. The minister expressed gratitude to CM Dhami and cabinet colleagues for the decision. He said that the State government is committed for the welfare of the UPNL workers. He assured that the benefit of equal pay for equal work will be given in future as well in a phased manner. Presently the benefit will be extended to the workers who have completed 10 years of service.
Pertinently, the UPNL workers were demanding regularisation of their services. In 2018, the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) had directed the State government to follow equal pay for equal work policy on the issue of UPNL workers. Following the decision of the HC, the Uttarakhand government filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court on the issue. The SC however rejected the SLP and upheld the order of HC. Following the order of the HC, the State government handed over the issue to a cabinet subcommittee headed by minister Subodh Uniyal. On the recommendation of the subcommittee, the cabinet gave the benefit of equal pay for equal work to the UPNL workers who have completed 10 years of service.
