Shimla: Workers’ union demands regularisation of service

Shimla, July 10

The Shimla Environment, Heritage Conservation and Beautification (SEHB) Society Workers’ Union associated with the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) here today staged a protest outside the premises of Deputy Commissioner’s office and demanded the regularisation of its workers.

During the protest, CITU State President Vijendra Mehra said the Municipal Corporation seems to be working against the bylaws of the society and is plotting to outsource their operations.

He said the amount the Municipal Corporation intends to spend on QR code scanning for mapping houses could instead fund the recruitment of 150 additional workers for three years, which would significantly aid in maintaining cleanliness in the city and will also held in reducing the workload on existing workers. Mehra alleged that this is being done to promote corruption.

He further alleged that said society’s workers and supervisors are being exploited financially and mentally. Mehra said every month the wages of hundreds of outsourced workers are not being paid on time, which is a violation of the Payment of Wages Act 1936.

They demanded additional pay for overtime work, legally mandated 39 holidays, policy to be framed to promote workers and supervisors. They also demanded an immediate meeting with SEHB’s AGM to address the workers’ demands comprehensively.

The workers of the society have warned of resorting to indefinite strikes and complete shutdown of its operations in the town if any attempts to privatise and outsource are attempted.