Noida: Sanitation staff go on protest again demanding uniform wages, benefits

If more contractual employees join the protest, it will affect sanitation services in the city. The Noida authority maintained that since these employees are hired by the private agencies, they should deal with their respective employers.

Around 200 sanitation employees have been on a protest outside the authority office in Sector 6 since Wednesday, demanding better wages and social security for their families.

Sanitation employees are demanding permanent jobs. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

If more contractual employees join the protest, it will affect sanitation services in the city. The Noida authority maintained that since these employees are hired by the private agencies, they should deal with their respective employers.

Workers are protesting on the road outside the Noida authority office. Police have blocked the road from Udyog Vihar side and deployed personnel at the protest site to prevent any escalation in the situation.

“We started our protest on Wednesday and it will continue until the authority addresses our demands. Our main demands are that all contractual employees, irrespective of their experience, should get equal wages. The authority should provide direct salary to us so that the 2.5% commission that the private agencies take too reaches the workers,” said Ravi Parcha, the leader of the group.

Sanitation employees have also demand permanent jobs.

Contracted sanitation workers had in December 2016 protested for 10 days leading to garbage accumulating on the streets of Noida. They had ended their strike only after the authority promised to address their demands.

“Every time we go on a protest, officials make promises. But nothing happens after that. No official or leader pays heed to our genuine demands. Our main grievance is that some workers get Rs 9,000 a month as salary while some get Rs18,000 a month for the same job. This discrimination should end and a uniform policy should be put in place to deliver justice,” said Chaman Kumar, another worker.

Workers are paid between ₹8,000 and ₹18,500 monthly by private contractors, who a charge 2.5% commission.

Around 4,200-4,600 workers have been hired on a contract basis by various private agencies. They are employed in various departments of Noida authority —sanitation, water, sewer, horticulture, etc. The workers were also demanding permanent jobs, priority to contracted workers in the government’s affordable houses and health benefits.

“We have made it very clear to the workers that if they do not work, their salary will be deducted for that particular day. We will look into the issue and deal with the protest strictly,” said Manish Verma, additional chief executive officer, Noida authority.