The 36-day strike by sanitation workers in Haryana has finally ended. An agreement was reached on sixteen demands following a meeting with the state chief, Naib Singh Saini. After the strike concluded, workers returned to work across the state, including Karnal, and began cleaning the streets to restore the disrupted municipal waste collection system.
During the strike, the entire waste collection system across the state completely broke down. Piles of garbage accumulated everywhere in cities, and the dirt increased the risk of disease spread. During the strike, clashes between sanitation workers and the police occurred multiple times. Sanitation workers insisted that they would not end the strike until the government provided them with permanent status.
Negotiations had previously taken place between the delegation of sanitation workers and government representatives, but they were unsuccessful. Following this, a meeting was held in Chandigarh between the state chief Naib Singh Saini, the head of the sanitation workers' union Naresh Shastri, cabinet minister Vipul Goel, cabinet minister Krishna Kumar Bedi, the workers' delegation, and senior officials. After reaching an agreement on 16 demands, the workers called off their strike.
After the strike ended, workers in Karnal took to the streets to improve the deteriorating situation in the city. The sanitation workers stated that their demands were accepted at the meeting with the government, after which they resumed work from today. They plan to work day and night to make the city as beautiful as before and restore cleanliness to the city as it was previously.
Sanitation workers noted that if the government had met their demands earlier, they would not have had to go on strike, and such situations would not have arisen in the city. Since the government agreed to their demands, the city is being restored.
At the meeting, an agreement was reached to provide a monthly uniform allowance of 440 rupees instead of a one-time payment. Regarding the demands for equal pay for equal work and allowances, the relevant payments were made to eligible workers. Workers employed under municipal contracts are provided with LTC benefits as per instructions. Instructions were issued through the health department regarding annual medical check-ups for sanitation workers and sewer workers, including regular employees, those on municipal contracts, and HKRNL, at the expense of the municipal body.
Furthermore, theoretical approval was obtained to extend the cashless medical policy benefits applicable to government employees to permanent employees of municipal bodies, pensioners, and their dependents. The department has already issued instructions for the municipal contract workers to receive a risk allowance of 2000 rupees per month. Agreement was also reached to provide a risk allowance to permanent employees.
Theoretical approval was obtained at the meeting to increase the accident insurance coverage to 10 million rupees under the accident insurance scheme for municipal contract workers, including sanitation workers, sewer workers, sanitary inspectors, and senior sewer workers, in case of death during work, from 5 million to 10 million rupees. Additionally, it was agreed that the bank would provide 50 million rupees in case of accidental death and permanent disability, and 25 million rupees in case of partial disability, to municipal contract workers and sewer workers who opened a savings account with SBI Bank.
Theoretical approval was also obtained to include municipal contract workers and sewer workers in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Chirayu scheme. The corresponding municipal body will make an annual contribution of 9203 rupees per employee for this purpose.
An agreement was reached to provide a total of 20 medical leaves within the calendar year. Simultaneously, theoretical approval was obtained to amend relevant service rules for the promotion of qualified sanitation workers and sewer workers to secretary positions, i.e., Group C. Theoretical approval was obtained to increase the salary of sewer workers working under municipal contracts by 2100 rupees per month. Guarantee is given to ensure the established minimum wage and ESI and EPF benefits for sanitation workers and sewer workers working through outsourcing agencies, as well as for eligible workers.
Agreement was reached regarding the hiring for vacant positions of sewer workers and sanitation workers. After determining the process, the government will set selection criteria within a month, and the announcement will be released in 15 days. A trade union representative will also be a member of the criteria committee. Hiring for vacant positions will be done periodically. It was also agreed to reinstate permanent employees. Furthermore, agreement was reached to rehire dismissed workers under municipal contracts and HKRNL. Further action will be taken according to rules after the withdrawal of lawsuits. Strike days will be compensated as overtime work. The meeting also reached an agreement on the right of family to employment and death benefit in accordance with the Employment Guarantee Act.
