Sanitation workers in Dharmapuri go on strike demanding minimum wages

The Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Local Body Administration Workers’ Association, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), led the sanitation workers in Dharmapuri on a day-long strike on Monday, demanding minimum wages and job permanence.

Their demands included medical leave, surrender and encashment of leave for permanent workers, immediate job permanence for contractual workers, salary credited on the first of the month, double wages for work on government holidays, identity cards, respectful treatment of workers and provision of safety gear.

The association also demanded annual health checks for workers, group insurance, ESI, TAHDCO loans, accident insurance. The protesters also demanded that the government reverse its outsourcing of conservancy works to contractors.

The CITU also demanded implementation of the Minimum Wage G.O. 2(d)62, and the subsequent Madras High Court orders on minimum wages on the litigation pursued by the Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Local Administration Workers’ Association. Under this, the Court ordered minimum wages for various categories of workers, including sanitation workers manning underground drainage systems, under the corporations, municipalities, town panchayats.