Pay 1,200 contract staff same salary as regular employees: Court to Mumbai University

However, the court refrained from regularising the services of these staffers and directed them to the Bombay high court.

The industrial court in the city has found that the University of Mumbai (MU) was engaging in unfair labour practice for paying 1,200 contractual employees less than its regular employees.

The industrial court in the city has found that the University of Mumbai (MU) was paying its contractual staff salaries lesser than its regular employees. (HT File)

In an order issued in January, the court directed the university to pay its contract employees salaries similar to what it pays its lowest grade pay staff. However, the court refrained from regularising the services of these staffers and directed them to the Bombay high court. “The complaint is partly allowed, with proportionate cost. The respondent university is restrained from committing unfair labour practice,” reads the order by DM Deshmukh, in-charge member, industrial court. MU has challenged the order in the high court.

MU has been employing non-teaching staff on contract-basis as the state government has created only eight permanent posts in the last 30 years. Out of the 1,319 permanent posts in MU, around 300 are lying vacant. While the regular employees are paid by the state, MU pays its temporary employees.

Last July, HT had reported that MU decided to not renew the contract of 470 temporary non-teaching employees. MU renewed 130 contracts after these employees gave an undertaking not to challenge the varsity in a court.