Chennai, 10 August (H.S.) : Nearly 2,000 sanitation workers of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) have continued their protest for the ninth day, demanding a monthly wage of Rs 23,000 and opposing privatization. The workers, who are currently employed under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) contract with GCC, are resisting the move to shift them to a private contractor, which would result in reduced wages of Rs 16,000 after deductions for PF and ESI.
The workers' demand for job regularization is pending before the labour court in Chennai. Despite five rounds of talks with civic officials, including Minister PK Sekarbabu, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary D Karthikeyan, Mayor R Priya, and GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran, the workers remain firm on their demands. The latest discussion is ongoing late into Saturday night, with assurances that their demands would be taken to the government.
The GCC had instructed NULM workers in Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones to join the private contractor, Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd, which has been handling solid waste management in the area since July 21. However, the workers oppose this move, citing reduced wages and lack of job security. The workers are ready to work to prevent garbage from piling up in the city but are unwilling to compromise on their demands.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
