Regularise services of workers, demands safai mazdoor union

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 2

The Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation today conducted a meeting at Dr Ambedkar Bhawan to raise their demand of regularising the jobs of contractual safai karamcharis and other sanitation workers in the state.

Unions associated with sanitation workers have threatened to intensify their campaign.

The federation president, Chandar Grewal, and Rajinder Hans of the Valmiki Samaj Ekta Manch were also present during the meeting.

Grewal said the federation opposed the contractual system in the state and demanded that pension must be ensured to all sanitation workers.

MC delegation meets Local Bodies Minister

A delegation of the Ludhiana Municipal Employees Sangarsh Committee, led by chairman Ashwani Sahota, met local bodies minister Brahm Mohindra at his residence in Chandigarh.

Sahota said the committee had submitted a memorandum of the demands of safai karamcharis, which include regularisation of jobs of all contractual employees, including sweepers, sewer men, drivers and other employees working on DC rates.

He said many employees had been working since 1994 but their jobs had still not been regularised.

“The status of ‘safai sainik’ should be given to safai karamcharis and sewer men of all Municipal Corporations and councils in the state. The employees should be provided with complete safety gear on duty,” he added.

The members of the committee also demanded that Rs 50 lakh compensation should be given to the family if any safai karamchari died while on duty.