Laid off, 22 contractual employees of DAV School cry foul

Tribune news service

Amritsar, June 4

Twenty two contractual employees of DAV Public School today gathered outside the school premises today to show resentment against their laying off during the Covid-19 lockdown. Alleging that they were not told about this decision earlier, the employees, who worked as peon and sweepers, and did other odd jobs at the school, said they would protest against the ‘unjustified’ lay off.

“We were not paid salaries for the past two months and when we came today to the school to know when will it open and we can join back, the management told us to collect our dues as they no longer needed us now. We do not have any other source of livelihood. How will we survive now,” said Parveen Kumari, who worked as a class IV employee at the school.

Like her, others too showed their anger towards the school management and said they would hold protest if their jobs were not given back. “Most of us have worked here for eight to 10 years and suddenly they took away our jobs by saying that we are not regular employees of the school and we can only be re-employed through the agency that hired us. This is unfair,” said Sanjivpal, another employee.

Meanwhile, refuting claims of the lay offs, Neera Sharma, principal, DAV Public School, said the employees were not fired but only asked to wait until they are rehired. “The school management, according to the regulations, had asked us not to renew contracts for the outsourced employees as whenever the school reopens, we will hold interviews for rehiring. We had asked these employees to collect their PF and ensure that they survive on the amount till rehiring is done. Also, we had cleared all the salaries before the lockdown and gave dry ration and arranged for the monetary help from donors for these employees. They have been treated with sensitivity during the lockdown.” She said there was scope of re-appointments for these employees, but it will only begin when the school re-opens.