Jammu, For the 607th consecutive day, hundreds of workers from the Jal Shakti (Public Health Engineering, PHE) Department gathered outside the Chief Engineer’s office in Jammu, continuing their demonstration against unpaid wages and demanding the regularization of their employment.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest, led by the PHE United Front, highlights a deep-rooted issue of unpaid wages spanning over 75 months, despite previous government assurances. The workers’ persistent demands come amid broader unrest among various government-employed sectors in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), including teachers, health workers, and sanitation staff, who have similarly rallied for fair compensation, better working conditions, and job security. These protests have been emblematic of the systemic discrimination and challenges faced by Kashmiri employees under the BJP-led occupation regime.

A focal point of the workers’ grievances is the stark wage disparity between the minimum wages in IIOJK and those in other Indian states, a discrepancy that severely affects their livelihoods and ability to cover basic living costs. The delay in addressing these wage issues not only underscores the economic hardships faced by these workers but also reflects the wider governmental neglect and administrative inefficiencies plaguing the region.

As the demonstration surpasses its second year, the enduring standoff between the PHE workers and the authorities exemplifies the ongoing struggle for justice and equitable treatment of government employees in the contested region.