Punjab doubles sanitation workers' pay as strike called off
Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Bains on Saturday said the state government has implemented its decisions for sanitation workers, ensuring them better salaries, job security and dignity across the state.
He said following a meeting, the unions of the sanitation workers have decided to resume garbage lifting and sanitation work across Punjab in the larger public interest.
"I thank all the unions for their cooperation. Uninterrupted sanitation services are essential, particularly during the monsoon season when the risk of disease spread is high," he said in a statement.
Dismissing the rumours claiming that new educational qualifications had been made mandatory for sanitation workers as false and baseless, he said, "Certain mischievous elements have been circulating fake letters and spreading false rumours claiming that new educational qualifications have been made mandatory for sanitation workers."
Highlighting decisions taken by the state government, Bains said, "All outsourced sanitation workers who have completed three years of service have been brought under the Punjab government's in-sourcing policy."
From August 1, they will receive the salary equivalent to a regular employee during the probation period, amounting to Rs 20,520 per month. Around Rs 17,000 will be received as in-hand salary, while approximately Rs 3,600 per month will be deposited toward their savings and other benefits. This effectively doubles the salary many workers were previously receiving, he said.
Sanitation workers recruited on contract in 2021 will also be regularised, fulfilling another major commitment of the government, he said.
Speaking about his meeting with the sanitation workers' unions, Bains said while some issues related specifically to Ludhiana and others pertained to the rest of Punjab, the unions expressed gratitude to chief minister Bhagwant Mann for these decisions.
Broad consensus has also been reached on the remaining demands, which will be taken up in another meeting scheduled for Monday, he said.
Referring to the recent Barnala lathi-charge incident involving sanitation workers, Bains said the concerned deputy superintendent of police was suspended immediately, while the police personnel posted at the concerned police station were transferred.
A special investigation team (SIT), comprising the Patiala Divisional Commissioner and the DIG, Patiala Range, has already begun its investigation, he said.
Sanitation workers had been on strike since July 8, demanding regularisation of services and a hike in salaries.
Because of the strike, heaps of garbage came up at many places in Punjab, with opposition parties targeting the AAP government for not accepting the demands of the protesters.
