Farmers, contractual workers stage protest, block Morinda-Sirhind Road

The farmers are opposing the closure of paddy procurement in some parts of Punjab, while contractual workers demanded revision of The Punjab Protection and Regularization of Contractual Employees Bill (2021), which they said had overlooked staff hired through a service provider.

Agitating over their respective issues, farmer unions and contractual workers laid siege to the Morinda-Sirhind Road and part of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana Road on Thursday.

Protesting contractual employees from 15 departments said they will not lift the protest until there demands are met. They said only 36,000 people will benefit from the bill, while 1.3 lakh employees will not be regularised. Farmers were also protesting at the same site and blocked the road. (HT Photo)

The farmers are opposing the closure of paddy procurement in some parts of Punjab, while contractual workers demanded revision of The Punjab Protection and Regularization of Contractual Employees Bill (2021), which they said had overlooked staff hired through a service provider.

Protesting contractual employees from 15 departments said they will not lift the protest until there demands are met. They said only 36,000 people will benefit from the bill, while 1.3 lakh employees will not be regularised. Meanwhile, farmers also held a protest at the Chandigarh-Ludhiana Road at the same site.