Garbage piles up as civic staff continue strike in Punjab

Bathinda: Garbage continues to pile up across towns and cities of Punjab as a strike by Municipal Mulazam Action Committee and Safai Sewak Union entered its 5th day on Sunday. The workers are demanding regularisation of the services implementation of the old pension scheme, and a raise in salary. As per sources, contractual workers, mainly safai sewaks, are getting just Rs 10,000 per month now. Both the unions have also opposed the contractual policy notified on Feb 21, 2023, wherein the condition of 10-year service was incorporated for regularisation for contractual workers.Municipal Mulazam Action Committee adviser Kuldeep Kumar, speaking to TOI, said, "After a strike by safai sewaks in July 2021, the state govt had assured to come out with a contractual policy. The policy was notified in Feb 2023, but the condition of 10-year service was incorporated for regularisation. We are now demanding the regularisation of services of all the contract-based employees, apart from raising the wages to Rs 40,000 per month." He claimed that till now, the state govt has not initiated any talks.On the other hand, concerned citizens have urged the state govt to find a solution. A senior official speaking to TOI said that the state govt is serious about the issue, and meetings are being held to find a workable solution.MSID:: 130992027 413 |