Customs workers stage protest

VADODARA, June 18: Group D8217; employees of the Central Excise and Customs organised an hour-long sit-in agitation and held a demonstration outside the Customs Commissionerate here on Thursday to press their demands for change of their designation and pay parity with the constables of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The agitation was organised in response to a call given by All India Group D8217; Federation.

Secretary of the Central Excise and Customs Group D8217; Employees8217; Union S J Machhi said though the group D8217; employees were performing the same duties of that of CBI constables, they were designated and paid the wages of peons by the government.

Chief Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs S K Bhardwaj, when contacted, said that the the Finance Ministry was 8220;sympathetic8221; towards their demands and assured to remove the anomalies. But it would take at least six months for completion of formalities and getting the matter cleared, he added.