More than 200 temporary workers of Bharathiar University in Coimbatore staged a sit-in protest on Monday, September 7, against alleged unauthorised deductions from their salaries towards Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and provident fund contributions.
The protesting workers include sanitation workers, gardeners, drivers and other employees who have been working at the university for several years.
Bharathiar University Employees Welfare Association General Secretary Ramesh Kumar alleged that Rs.1,000 to Rs.3,000 was deducted from workers’ salaries in July, while Rs.500 to Rs.1,000 was deducted this month. He alleged that deductions had also been made towards worker contributions for the period from 2019 to 2025.
The workers alleged that despite objections being raised over the manner of the deductions, the university administration had continued to deduct amounts from their salaries.
Ramesh Kumar said the Registrar had assured workers during a grievance meeting held on August 11 that amounts deducted improperly would be returned and that further deductions would not be made. However, the workers claimed that the deductions had continued and that the amounts already deducted had not been refunded.
The workers demanded payment of the minimum wages announced for them, two years’ Pongal bonus, proper implementation of ESI and provident fund deductions, immediate settlement of two months’ salary arrears for drivers and wage revision for those who have completed more than 10 years of service.
They also demanded consolidated pay for daily-wage workers with more than five years of service, identity cards and salary slips, residential accommodation and appointment of male sanitation workers.
The union further demanded the immediate transfer of Mohanraj, a telephone operator, alleging that he was involved in the disputed salary deductions.
More than 200 workers reportedly participated in the sit-in protest and urged the university administration to address their demands immediately.
