Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee correspondent
A massive rally and one-day boycott of work was organised by electricity workers in Madhya Pradesh. Their primary demand was regularisation of nearly 5,000 electricity contract workers in MP.
On 22nd October, a massive rally and demonstration was organised by the United Forum for Power Employees and Engineers (UFPEE) in Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal for their demand of regularisation of contract workers. Thousands of permanent and contract employees of the electricity sector participated in the demonstration. The workers had announced a one-day work boycott and protest. Workers and engineers gathered across district headquarters and sites like Bhopal’s Govindpura electricity colony.
Militant speeches and slogans against privatisation of the electricity sector and regularisation of contract posts were made. Speakers highlighted that many attempts have been made to submit letters and memorandums of their demands to different MPs, MLAs, and collectors, but no actions have been taken to resolve their issues. About 5,000 electricity workers in MP are working on contractual basis. There are many workers that have been working on contractual basis for more than 10-15 years now. Time and again assurances for making them permanent have been made, but the number of contractual workers over the years has only risen.
Workers have been continuously demanding that the posts of contract workers be regularised. After protest actions by power sector workers on July 24th, 2026 the Energy department was forced to announce that they will look into the matter and conduct an internal examination for regularisation of contract workers in MP. 31st October, 2026 was given as the final date to complete the assessment and finalise the regularisation process. However, electricity workers said that with less than 10 days remaining for the promised deadline to get over, they see no steps being taken in the direction of meeting their demands.
Workers have pointed out multiple times that contractualization not only takes away their job security but also exploits them at a much higher level which in turn also impacts the service quality. Over the years, rampant outsourcing has taken place and the number of contract workers have only increased. Workers are demanding that they should be regularised without any further delay. They are also saying that after 15 years of service, there should be no need for an internal exam and any delay citing conduct of the exam cannot be tolerated. Workers have warned the government that if their demands are not resolved before Diwali, they will go on an indefinite boycott of work by giving a seven-day notice.
The demands of electricity workers are totally just and must be supported.