Electricity contract workers seek regularisation, better pay - The HinduPublished - July 22, 2026 07:34 pm IST - VIJAYAWADAThe CITU-affiliated United City Contract Workers Union has urged the Andhra Pradesh government and power utilities to address the long-pending demands of electricity contract workers, stating that thousands of employees who have served the sector for nearly three decades continue to face low wages, job insecurity and inadequate social security benefits.In a press release issued on Wednesday, Puli Anil Kumar, Regional Secretary of the NTR district unit of the union, alleged that contract workers have been ensuring uninterrupted power supply round the clock despite receiving inadequate wages and being denied basic employment benefits. He said successive governments and power utility managements had failed to resolve their issues, leaving many workers and their families under severe financial stress owing to rising living costs, educational expenses and healthcare needs.Mr. Kumar said many workers nearing retirement had not been regularised despite putting in nearly 30 years of service and were retiring without adequate retirement benefits. He also alleged harassment by officials and uncertainty over continued employment.The union demanded abolition of the third-party outsourcing system, merger of contract workers with the power utilities, implementation of a minimum monthly salary of ₹48,000, job security, comprehensive ESI, EPF and medical benefits, retirement benefits of ₹20 lakh for every retiring worker, and regularisation of long-serving employees.Published - July 22, 2026 07:34 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }