Data entry operators raise voice against newly hired private firm

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 1

Around 100 data entry operators working on an outsourcing basis in Municipal Corporation offices have raised their voice against conditions fixed for their service by the newly hired private firm. They gave a memorandum to MC Commissioner Shena Aggarwal at the MC’s Zone A office here on Friday.

The data entry operators accused the new firm of forcing them to deposit Rs 10,000 as refundable security and Rs 5,000 as charges for uniforms. However, the monthly salary of each data entry operator is around Rs 9170, they said.

Sharing their concern, the data entry operators said how could they pay Rs 15,000 to the firm when they are getting a low salary. “The firm has asked them to submit their original certificate of Class X. It is the sheer exploitation of data entry operators. We need original certificate whenever we have to apply for a new job. We can’t submit it to the firm,” a worker said.

Moreover, the firm ordered that the operators would be working on a probation period for the next two months. They demanded from the MC Commissioner to cancel such “anti-employee” conditions fixed by the firm so that they would not suffer any more.

Coming in support of the data entry operators, former councillor Parminder Mehta has written a complaint to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Mehta said: “The new firm is exploiting the data entry operators who have been working with the MC for a long time. The firm has no right to demand any security fee and uniform charges from the operators. I demand from the state government to take the matter seriously and order to cancel such wrong conditions fixed by the firm.”

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