Bathinda: Garbage continues to accumulate across towns and cities in Punjab as the strike by the Municipal Mulazam Action Committee and Safai Sewak Union entered its fifth day on Sunday. The workers are demanding regularisation of services, implementation of the old pension scheme, and a salary increase.
Workers' Demands
According to sources, contractual workers, mainly safai sewaks, currently receive only Rs 10,000 per month. Both unions have opposed the contractual policy notified on February 21, 2023, which includes a condition of 10-year service for regularisation of contractual workers.
Municipal Mulazam Action Committee adviser Kuldeep Kumar stated, "After a strike by safai sewaks in July 2021, the state government had assured to come out with a contractual policy. The policy was notified in February 2023, but the condition of 10-year service was incorporated for regularisation. We are now demanding the regularisation of services of all contract-based employees, apart from raising wages to Rs 40,000 per month." He claimed that the state government has not initiated any talks so far.
Citizens' Concern and Government Response
Concerned citizens have urged the state government to find a solution. A senior official stated that the government is serious about the issue and meetings are being held to find a workable solution.
