The employees, who were recruited through examinations and interviews, were tasked with communicating the government’s welfare and development programmes through the media
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Even as Keralam government employees receive bonuses and festival allowances ahead of Onam, nearly 100 former contract workers of the Information and Public Relations Department’s (I&PRD) PRISM project are yet to receive salaries for three months.Many of them have been left without any income for nearly six months after the extended term of their contracts ended in May.The employees, who were recruited through examinations and interviews, were tasked with communicating the government’s welfare and development programmes through the media. Although their contracts expired in January, the tenure was extended by three months in view of the Assembly election, and they continued working through March, April and May.However, salaries for the extended period remain unpaid, they allege. The monthly remuneration of the workers, including sub-editors, content editors and information assistants, ranged from ₹16,940 to ₹21,780. The total salary arrears are estimated at around ₹53 lakh. A representative of the employees said that with their contracts ending and salaries still pending, many families were struggling to meet their daily expenses.The affected workers have written to the I&PRD, demanding the immediate release of their pending salaries.Dues to be paid soon, says I&PRD directorI&PRD director Sabin Sameed told The Hindu on Monday that the process of disbursing the salary arrears for the PRISM workers had been completed and that the dues would be paid without further delay. Published - August 24, 2026 12:13 pm IST
