Bathinda: With garbage heaps mounting across Punjab, sanitation workers in the state dug in their heels on Wednesday, refusing to end their strike until demands for regularisation are met. They took out protest marches in several towns.
The strike by the Municipal Mulazam Action Committee and Safai Sewak Union began on May 6. Workers are demanding regularisation of all outsourced and contractual employees, restoration of the old pension scheme, and a hike in the minimum salary of contractual workers.
Sanitation workers have rejected the contractual policy notified on February 21, 2023, under which contractual employees become eligible for regularisation only after completing 10 years of service. Committee adviser Kuldeep Kumar termed the policy "anti-employee," saying workers wanted regularisation under the policy that existed before February 2023. They are also seeking an increase in monthly wages from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000.
Kumar alleged the state government was trying to divide workers by holding talks with sanitation employees who were not part of the strike. Residents complained of foul smell from mounting waste dumps and urged the government to resolve the issue before it triggers health concerns. Punjab Director (Local Government) Kulwant Singh said the government was working towards a solution.
