Garbage collection hit as workers revolt against non-payment

Bringing the door-to-door garbage collection service to a halt, the sanitation workers associated with MSW Essel Infra, the company handling the service of solid waste management here in Capital city, continued with their strike on the fourth day. According to the workers, the company has failed miserably in fulfilling their demands of releasing the monthly wages on time.

The workers who are on strike since July 4 opined that the company has been making false promises since the day it had took the charge. The protesting sanitation staffs stated that the issue of delay of payment is yet to get resolved despite the intervention of several senior officials in the past.

Notably, this is for the fifth time, when the sanitation workers have called a strike. Moreover, in order to register their protest, Mini-Transfer Stations (MTS) at Morhabadi and Khelgaon have been locked up by the sanitation staffs since July 4. “Irregular payment issue is one prime factor for calling the strike. Every month, we get salary late. We will not call off the strike until we get a written assurance that the monthly wage of each sanitation worker is released on time, probably in the first week of each month,” said a protesting sanitation worker on Sunday.

As many as 250 sanitation staffs are on strike. On the other hand, Senior Manager, MSW – Essel Infra, Om Kishore stated that this is a pre-planned conspiracy to hamper the reputation of the company. “A few notorious persons are behind this strike. The company has decided to take stringent action against the drivers who are unnecessarily hampering the regular work and misguiding other workers to continue the strike. As far as their monthly wage is concerned, the company often releases the payment on time. At times, due to miscellaneous financial need, the problem arises yet the workers get their monthly wage,” said Kishore.

MTS located at Morhabadi including Khelgaon are considered to be the most difficult operational sites. City residents of around 10 wards at present have been suffering due to this indefinite strike. “Ward councilors including the senior officials of RMC have been made aware about the present status. The company is trying to resolve the issue. All machines and equipments engaged in other wards will be utilized in the localities from where the work of door to door garbage collection is not being carried out at present,” Kishore added.