Ranchi, Sep 22: Sanitation workers, drivers, helpers and cleaners of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation will stage a protest and gherao outside the Labour Commissioner’s office at Labour Bhawan, Doranda, on September 25, demanding resolution of several long-pending issues, the Jharkhand Municipal Bodies Workers’ Union said.
The protest is scheduled to begin at 3 pm. Union president Bhawan Singh alleged that the Labour Department’s alleged indifference and negligence in implementing labour laws had compelled workers to approach the Labour Commissioner.
The workers are demanding payment of pending bonus, fixation of a date for payment of arrears of the increased dearness allowance from April and settlement of one month’s salary arrears from December 2013 by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation as the principal employer.
The union has also sought implementation of mandatory leave provisions for unorganised and outsourced workers and a minimum wage of Rs 18,000, citing rising inflation.
It has further demanded reinstatement of workers who were removed from service due to absence caused by maternity or illness.
“Workers have been forced to approach the Labour Commissioner due to the Labour Department’s inefficiency, indifference and negligence in ensuring implementation of labour laws,” Singh said.
He claimed that the union had submitted representations to the Labour Commissioner and the Municipal Corporation administrator three times, but no concrete action had followed.
“Despite the Additional Administrator giving written consent on all the points, the decisions have not been implemented,” Singh alleged.
The union is also demanding a decision on regularisation of workers who have completed 10 years of service.
Singh said the workers would continue their gherao until negotiations were held at the Labour Commissioner’s level and a meeting was convened to address their demands.
The union appealed to municipal workers across the state to participate in large numbers and make the protest successful.
“Stop the policy of delaying and avoiding the issues,” the union said, while urging workers to stand together for their rights and legal entitlements.
