Safai karamcharis and Ghantagadi Workers in Thane

Safai karamcharis and Ghantagadi Workers in Thane

There are about 1400 'so called' contract workers working as Safai Karamcharis and Ghantagadi workers in the Solid Waste Management department under Thane Municipal Corporation. Safai and Ghantagadi workers are doing permanent and perennial nature job. Sweepers and Ghantagadi workers are performing statutory duty of Corporation of cleaning, sweeping, and transportation of garbage. Safai workers are doing the same kind of work for more than 12-13 years but still they have not got the status of permanent workers. Workers working under TMC are getting Rs242 per day. In Ward No. 17 (Diva Ward), workers are not even getting the minimum wages as they are getting only Rs150. There are atrocities against the workers from both sides- contractors as well as government employees. This whole contract system is 'sham' and 'bogus' according to the 'Abolition and Regulation of Contract Labour Act 1947'. In 2007, Corporation had taken the decision to pay wages to the Ghantagadi and Safai workers equal to class IV employees of TMC. But the TMC is delaying its implementation for no just reason.

Maharashtra Municipal Kamgaar Union on behalf of these workers recorded strong protest against the policy of the Corporation to deny the status of permanent workers to the Ghantagadi and Safai workers on 30th June 2014 by staging a 'Dharna' in front of TMC office. Large number of workers were gathered outside TMC office. TMC in its meeting with workers' representatives promised to fulfill the demands of the workers. Worker raised the following demands in front of TMC by staging protest in front of TMC office:

1. That the Ghantagadi and Safai workers should be given wages and other allowances equal to the class IV employees of TMC.
2. Ghantagadi and Safai workers should be given safety equipments like rain coat, shoes, gloves, mask, etc.
3. Payments to Ghantagadi and Safai workers should be made through cheque and payment slip should be provided to the workers.
4. TMC hold an order that workers should be given 21 days paid leaves but till now they have not received any money in the form of encashment of paid leaves. This whole money sums up equal to Rs 5 Crore. Please give record of this money.
5. TMC should provide medical facilities to the workers and their families.