Shillong, May 16: The Employees of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) under the umbrella of the Coordination Committee of Registered MeECL Association and Union (CCoRMAU) on Tuesday boycotted work and held a protest during office hours over the alleged rigidness of the management in releasing their salaries. They have decided to continue their protest till their salaries are released.
Speaking to media persons, vice president of CCoRMAU, Arju Dkhar said that this is not the first time that the MeECL had blocked and delayed the monthly salary of all employees, hence, the union had decided to come out and protest.
Dkhar said the management of the MeECL is adamant with regard to the obligations to pay employees’ wages before the 10th day of every month in accordance with Section 17 of the Wage Act.
He added that the union had apprised the management several times on this issue and have suggested that the salary can be paid by the 10th of every month but till date the salary is paid even by 24th or 25th of the month, and there are instances when the salaries are paid after two months.
“The corporation’s monthly revenue ranges between Rs. 80 and Rs.110 crore but it is surprising that the government is unable to make timely wage payments to its own employees, hence we have decided to come out and protest every month until the management releases our salary,” said Dkhar.
Dkhar said that it is a fact that the corporation has a lot of liabilities but it is also the duty of the management to pay the salaries of its employees on time, especially when the employees fulfill their duties as assigned.
He added that majority of the employees are under constraints as they have to cover large areas without getting fuel money etc. but with so much constraints the employees have never stopped with their duties.
