Sanitation workers end stir as contract system to go

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

The 16-day long strike by sanitation workers in Haryana was on Thursday called off after the state government conceded to most of the demands, including increase in salary and allowances.

“The agitating safai and sewer karamcharis have decided to call off their strike,” Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain told the media here.

She addressed a press conference after a meeting with office-bearers of the Municipal Workers Union and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. The two unions announced their decision to end the strike.

The safai and sewer karamcharis of municipal bodies will now get a lump sum salary of Rs13,500 per month. Besides, it has been decided to end the practice of contractual engagement and absorb the employees in the payroll of the Urban Local Bodies Department.

Jain said the broom allowance would be raised from Rs2 to Rs150 per month and safai allowance from Rs350 to Rs1,000 per month.

“It has also been decided to increase the allowance being given in lieu of work on a holiday from Rs600 to Rs1,000 and washing allowance from Rs240 to Rs440 per month,” she said.

She said the government had already set up a separate directorate of fire services. The vacancies of fireman would be re-advertised to provide benefit to contractual fireman employed at present.

They would be given time to meet the revised qualifications like education till class 12, fire fighting course and heavy driving license. Till then, they would not be removed, she said.

Regarding regularisation of the services of contractual employees, a committee will be constituted to formulate a policy. It would also include office-bearers of the two employees' unions. Employees bereft of the benefit of equal work, equal pay would get the benefit, Jain said.

The Urban Local Bodies Department has decided to create a web portal application under which any employee of the department who feels that he or she should get the benefit of equal work, equal pay, can apply. The case would be decided within two months, she added.