Safai karamcharis seek job regularisation

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 19

Even after passing of several years, a number of safai karamcharis and sewermen working on contract basis are still waiting for regularisation of their jobs. Notably, a number of safai karamcharis have been demanding regularisation of jobs for a long time, but to no avail.

A group of the contractual employees said: “We are underpaid but we work for equal hours as regular employees. The government must increase our salaries and regularise our jobs.”

A member of the Ludhiana West Sub-Division Grievances Redressal Committee Satish Thaman has written to the Chief Minister and the Punjab Local Bodies Minister, demanding to regularise jobs of safai karamcharis.

Thaman said a group of safai karamcharis had brought the matter into his notice. He said the safai karamcharis and sewermen had been working in the civic body for the past several years, but their jobs were not being regularised despite repeated assurances.

Thaman said: “The employees told me that their monthly income is very low and it is hard to meet their daily needs. Moreover, they are forced to work under unsafe conditions due to unavailability of safety kits. The government should take necessary measures for the welfare of these safai karamcharis and sewermen.”

He said the safai karamcharis and sewermen should be regularised on priority basis and the cases related to these contractual employees should be referred to the Chairman of the Safai Karamchari Commission, Punjab, Geja Ram Balmiki, for taking early suitable action.

Meanwhile, State Convener of the Safai Karamchari Andolan Subhash Desawar said the employees who were working at various municipal corporations and the councils on contract basis should be regularised at the earliest.

He said: “It has been seen that contractual employees are often exploited. They should get salary equal to regular employees. All employees whether regular or contractual work in same conditions. There should be no discrimination with anyone. All contractual employees should be regularised.”

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