COVID-19 woes: Salaries of Multi Skilled Staff at South Asia University slashed 30-60%; employees protest

The Multi-Skilled Staff (MSS) employees of South Asian University (SAU) held a sit-in protest in front of the SAU President’s office as their salaries have been slashed up to 30-60 per cent.

Amid the Coronavirus lockdown and the ensuing hardships, three MSS employees were terminated and two employees who suffered from COVID-19 were not paid their dues in the corresponding period which shows the complete apathy of the University and the third party contractor, the employees alleged.

The University administration even locked the toilets on the floor where the MSS employees have been protesting and the floor below.

According to the protesters, the Executive Council of the University had approved an annual appraisal of 10 per cent on gross salary but no benefit has reached to the workers so far.

The President of SAU had assured that a committee will be formed to look into their grievances, but with no representation from the workers themselves.

The MSS employees have been demanding:

1. To regularise the Multi-Skilled Staffs who have completed 5 years of their tenure in SAU.

2. Those employees who have not completed 5 years of job, they should be brought in on the payroll of SAU and after the completion of 5 years of tenure, they should also be regularised.

3. The three employees, who were kicked out of their jobs in the COVID-19 lockdown, after serving the university for more than 5 years must be reinstated in their positions immediately.

4. The salaries discontinuation of four MSS workers since November 2020 although they continue to provide their services, their pending salaries must be released immediately with an annual accrued increment of 10 per cent.

5. A committee should be formed by the acting president for job regularisation. The committee should include three representative members from Multi-Skilled Staffs.

6. The salaries of the MSS staff should be reinstated to pre-contract renewal sum along with the due appraisals, with immediate effect.

The Progressive Students’ Group (PSG) while supporting the demands of MSS, has demanded an end to the exploitation of the other workers of the university. They also demand that other than MSS, workers who are directly engaged in functioning of the University should be brought on the payroll and their salaries be regularised.

South Asian University is an international university established by the eight member nations of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

SAU started its operations from the academic year 2010. The university now offers post-graduate and doctoral programmes in various disciplines including Economics, Computer Science, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Sociology, International Relations and Law. SAU attracts students from all member nations and its degrees are recognised by all the eight SAARC countries.

The University is currently functioning from Akbar Bhawan Campus in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi before it eventually moves into its 100 acre campus in Maidan Garhi, South Delhi where construction is underway.