11 hrs ago
Haryana Sanitation Workers Extend Strike Over Regularisation Demand
Sanitation workers in Haryana have been on strike for about a month.
They want their contractual jobs to become regular jobs.
The workers decided to continue the strike until September 9.
The government had told them to return to work by September 5.
It warned that workers who did not return could face legal or departmental action.
The government also offered protections under a law for contractual employees.
These protections include job security until age 60 and some benefits.
The workers said these steps did not meet their main demand.
They plan to hold more meetings to decide how to continue their protest.
Haryana sanitation workers have extended their month-long strike by three days, until September 9.
The workers are demanding regularisation of contractual sanitation, sewer and fire department employees.
The government had ordered striking municipal workers to return by September 5 or face legal and departmental action.
The state said 13,093 municipal sanitation workers will receive job security until age 60 under its contractual employees law.
Workers rejected the government’s measures and announced district meetings from September 10 to 12, followed by a state meeting in Kurukshetra on September 13.
- Who
- Sanitation, sewer and fire department employees represented by the Nagarpalika Karamchari Sangh Haryana, and the Haryana government.
- What
- The sanitation workers extended their strike by three days while continuing to demand regularisation of contractual employees.
- Where
- Across Haryana, with a state-level meeting planned in Kurukshetra.
- When
- The strike was extended until September 9; further meetings are planned for September 10-13.
- Why
- Workers want contractual employees’ services regularised, while the government has offered coverage under its contractual employees law and ordered them to resume work.
Workers’ Position
Government’s Position
Employment status
Workers’ Position
Workers insist that contractual sanitation, sewer and fire employees should have their services regularised.
Government’s Position
The government has brought municipal sanitation workers under the contractual employees law rather than announcing full regularisation.
Strike and government response
Workers’ Position
The workers’ union says the protest will continue despite alleged repression, arrests, suspensions and dismissals.
Government’s Position
The government directed striking employees to return to duty by September 5 and warned of legal and departmental action for unauthorised absence.
Benefits offered
Workers’ Position
Workers have rejected various government offers, saying their central demand for regularisation remains unmet.
Government’s Position
The government says the law provides job security until age 60 and benefits including annual dearness allowance, death-cum-retirement gratuity and maternity leave.
Key facts
- Strike duration
- The workers had been on strike for about one month.
- Extended deadline
- The strike will continue until September 9.
- Government return-to-work deadline
- Striking employees were directed to report by September 5.
- Workers affected
- 13,093 sanitation workers on municipal rolls work in Haryana’s urban local bodies.
- Current monthly pay
- Workers receive Rs 20,590 per month, including Rs 19,000 salary and Rs 1,590 in allowances.
- Government measure
- Municipal sanitation workers were brought under the Haryana Contractual Employees (Service Security) Act, 2024.
- Planned meetings
- Jan Nyay Panchayats are scheduled across districts from September 10-12, followed by a state-level meeting in Kurukshetra on September 13.
Quotes
Naresh Kumar Shastri
State president of the Nagarpalika Karamchari Sangh
“Despite police repression, false cases, arrests, suspensions, and dismissals, the employees’ morale remains high. They are firmly resolved to continue the struggle until their demands are met.”
theprint.in
“All tactics employed by the government to crush the sanitation and fire employees’ legitimate movement, discredit them, and instill fear among the staff have failed completely.”
theprint.in
Sources
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