Sanitation workers seek reinstatement

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 12

Sanitation workers of Ambedkar University, Delhi, (AUD), who were sacked recently, met Labour Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday. They were accompanied by members of the Safai Kamgar Union.

They claimed that they were ousted on May 31 without any due notice from the administration. “We were forced out of the gates two hours after being apprised of the decision by the administration,” said one of the members of the union.

These workers were hired by Sulabh International. The administration said the termination of Sulabh’s contract was the reason behind ousting them.

Recently, the Delhi Government had passed an order concerning the employment of all contract workers in government departments. It stated that these workers were to be employed directly by the respective departments. In another decision, the state government had laid down that minimum 80 per cent of the workers were to be retained even if the contractor was changed.

AUD being a university run by the Delhi Government falls within the purview of the orders and hence workers have to be employed by the administration. Also, the job of sanitation workers is of permanent nature as per the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.

Today, during their meeting with the Labour Minister, the sanitation workers demanded that the university should not only reinstate all 52 members, but also provide permanent jobs to them. They also demanded an extension in the facilities of provident fund and esi. The minister assured them to look into the matter and visited the university.