Casual workers of the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) at Umsaw, Ri-Bhoi district have complained of non-payment of their wages for six months and sought the State government intervention on the matter.
Addressing media persons here today, a casual worker of NEPA, Pynkhrawborlang Sun said that the employment of 62 casual workers of NEPA was outsourced through a contractor Arihant Suppliers for a period of six months from October 6, 2020 to April 4, 2021.
Informing that the contract with Arihant Suppliers was terminated on April 4, 2021, Sun said that the contractor had paid their wages only for October 2020 to January 2021 in varying amounts and irregular periods and failed to pay their pending salaries from February to March 2021.
“Details on the Employees Provident Fund and ESI are also not clear as to the amount deducted from the wages of the casual workers and the same was not clarified to the casual staff of NEPA and while some casual staff had received the EPF and ESI for October to December 2020 others casual workers are yet to receive the same,” he said.
Sun also said that on receipt of a complaint from the causal staff regarding the financial difficulties due to non-payment of their wages from February to March 2021, the NEPA has extended a relief fund of Rs 10,000 only as a loan which is to be duly returned on receipt of the remaining salary from the contractor.
Informing that after the contract with Arihant Suppliers was terminated, a new contract was awarded to Ratin Baruah from June 2021 till date, Sun said that the new contractor has also paid them wages for June 2021 excluding the EPF and ESI after deduction from their salary.
He also said that the casual workers are confused about how the NEPA will pay their wages for the duties they have performed regularly during the period where there was no contractor from April 5 to May 31 this year.
Informing that they have written to the Director of NEPA on the matter but without any response, the casual workers said that they are facing great misery since they have mouths to feed and bills to pay.
The workers also urged the State government to intervene and help them on the matter.
