Garbage collection suspended in Amritsar after row over workers’ salary

Amritsar, January 19

The workers of solid waste management company Averda suspended the collection of garbage in north and east constituencies following the non-payment of salary in lieu of short attendance here yesterday. However, after negotiations with company officials, the workers resumed their work today. The protesting workers alleged that the company was not paying them salaries and other benefits, alleging that employees were absent from work. The workers claimed that they have been regular but the company was marking them absent. The company’s services were disrupted in north and east constituencies due to protest by the workers.

Atinder Singh, Delivery Manager, Averda, said, “There were a handful of workers who were demonstrating. They were not marking their attendance and the company imposed a cut on their salaries. Biometric attendance is compulsory before the start and end of work every day. If the employee starts work one hour late, then the software does not allow him to mark attendance. As per the company policy, there would be cut in salary in case of more absence than sanctioned leaves. There are some employees who did not mark attendance for 15 to 17 days in a month. How can the company pay them for a full month? Otherwise, we are paying salaries to all the regular workers.”

Company officials claimed that issue was sorted out yesterday and workers resumed their job today.

The company has been facing regular criticism due to irregular lifting of garbage and poor sanitation in the city. However company officials claimed that all the vehicles are functional and garbage is being collected from all constituencies regularly. “No one appreciate for clean roads but everyone criticize us for some specific areas, ” said Atinder Singh.