Fifty-three junior workers of the Kedah Education Department in the Kubang Pasu district whose contract had been terminated have appealed to the federal government to extend their service until they turn 58.

Chairperson of the contract junior workers and guards association of the district, Aziz Isa, said most of them had worked for more than 13 years and had depended totally on their jobs for their source of income.

Speaking to reporters after these contract workers held a peaceful gathering in Jitra, he said some of them had even won excellence service awards.

"The state department said it did not get any response from the Education Ministry pertaining to the continuation of their contracts," said Aziz, who claimed to have worked for 16 years.

He also said that they sent a memorandum recently to the prime minister but had yet to receive any response.

It is learnt that nationwide, about 2,000 contract workers at state education departments had their services terminated on Dec 31.

- Bernama