BWSSB Orders Revised Minimum Wages for Contract Workers Following Freedom Park Protest
Workers seek equal pay, direct payment system and timely settlement of allowances
Bengaluru, Sept. 23: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has directed payment of revised minimum wages and Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for 2026-27 to outsourced employees, following a protest by contract workers at Freedom Park demanding equal pay, timely wages and improved employment conditions.
BWSSB Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary Prasanna Kumar V.K., who met the protesting workers and received their memorandum, said the revised wage rates prescribed by the State Labour Department for the period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, must be implemented.
The protest, organised by the BWSSB Contract Workers’ Union, sought “equal pay for equal work”, abolition of the contract system and introduction of a Direct Payment System (DPS) on the lines of civic workers.
Wage Difference to Be Cleared
Prasanna Kumar said officials had been instructed to calculate wages applicable to outsourced workers under revised Zone-1 and Zone-2 rates. After deducting amounts already paid to contractors, the remaining differential amount would be released to enable settlement of workers’ dues.
“Workers should bring their problems directly to our notice. Whatever demands can be addressed immediately will be taken up, while issues requiring government intervention will be brought to its attention,” he said.
He assured workers that the Board would engage with its chairman and the government to resolve outstanding concerns.
‘All Workers Are Equal’
Rejecting discrimination between permanent and outsourced employees in addressing their concerns, Prasanna Kumar said, “For us, there is no discrimination between outsourced and regular workers. All workers are equal.”
He stressed that workers’ safety could not be compromised. “Human life is invaluable. We will discuss what legal remedies and safeguards are required. If an agency is found at fault, there will be no excuse. If necessary, we will change the agency,” he said, assuring workers that officials would participate in future meetings concerning their grievances.
Workers List Key Demands
The union demanded release of bonus, DA and arrears for all eligible workers and insisted that monthly salaries be credited between the first and seventh of every month.
Women workers sought six months of paid maternity leave and an end to alleged mental harassment at workplaces. The protesters also demanded clearly defined working hours, holidays and overtime, besides monthly payment of risk allowance for workers in rural areas instead of the existing three-month cycle.
Labour Department official Thammaiah, union representatives Ravi Mohan, Satish and Narayan, Karnataka Janashakti State President Noor Sridhar, KSS representatives Sushma, Varadarajendra and Channamma, JCTU representative K.V. Bhat and others participated in the protest.
