Air India’s Casual Workers Move Bombay High Court Seeking Work After Lockdown

Around 250 casual workers of the state-run airlines, Air India, have approached the Bombay High Court to get work. Due to the lockdown implemented to prevent the coronavirus pandemic, workers lost their jobs and are now desperately searching for work.

This petition has been filed by the Air India Limited Kamgar Sangh, on which the Bombay High Court has sought a reply from Air India within two weeks. The petition states that most of the casual labourers depend on the daily wages they receive from airlines.

Workers used to get 240 days of work in a year from Air India and in return, they got a daily wage of Rs 535. All these workers have been demanding regularisation and wage revision and have been fighting their battles in different courts for years, but their condition has worsened amid the pandemic.

All these labourers worked as catering assistants, baggage handlers, security scanners, and bus drivers for the airlines. The petition also stated that despite the commencement of air service, most of the employees were not called back while the permanent and contractual employees were given work.

The petitioners say that some employees living around the airport have also been given work but 250 people have not been able to get work.