Daily wagers to protest on Sep 1 over regularisation delay

Srinagar, Aug 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Casual Daily Wagers Forum on Thursday announced a peaceful protest on September 1 over the prolonged delay in the regularisation of around 61,000 daily wagers, warning that the agitation could be intensified through hunger strikes and work stoppages if the government fails to act.
Forum president Sajjad Ahmad Parray, addressing a press conference here, appealed to daily wagers and employees across departments to remain united and prepare for a sustained democratic struggle for regularisation and a permanent solution to their demands.
“A committee headed by the Chief Secretary was constituted on March 11, 2025, to prepare a roadmap for the regularisation of daily wagers and submit its report within six months. Despite the passage of around 17 months, the committee’s report and recommendations have not been made public,” Parray said.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured the Assembly that the regularisation process would begin during the current financial year, but daily wagers continued to await concrete action.
“Around 61,000 daily wagers, along with their families, are affected by this prolonged uncertainty. Many of them survive on a monthly remuneration of around Rs 9,000, while household, medical, education and utility expenses continue to rise,” he said.
Parray warned against attempts to divide employees and daily wagers, asserting that unity and collective action would remain central to their struggle. “We will remain united. Any attempt to divide employees and daily wagers will not weaken our struggle. Our focus is regularisation and a permanent solution to our demands,” he said.
“The September 1 protest will be the first phase of our renewed movement. If the government continues to delay a just and permanent solution, we will intensify the agitation through further measures, including hunger strikes and work stoppages,” the Forum president said. (KNO)