Sanitation workers in Periyapatna have raised complaints about delayed wages, the lack of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and provident fund (PF) benefits, minimum-wage violations and working conditions during a consultation organised by the Safai Karmachari Commission on Wednesday.
The complaints were presented to commission member C. Shankar Ankanashettipura at a dialogue with municipal workers held in the taluk panchayat auditorium. Workers said minimum wages remained out of reach and sought greater livelihood security.
Speaking at the meeting, Shankar said the commission was committed to protecting sanitation workers’ interests. He said action would be taken against officials if workers faced difficulties, and urged them to understand the benefits and entitlements available to them. He also said the government was supportive of workers.
K. Srinivas, president of the municipal sanitation workers’ association, alleged that permanent sanitation workers of the town municipality were not receiving their wages on time. Municipal worker Channakeshava sought better quality in the breakfast provided to workers by the municipality.
Vijay Kumar said he had worked for several years as a sanitation worker at the tobacco auction market but was removed suddenly by the auction superintendent. He alleged that he had not been provided ESI or PF benefits. Selvi, who works as a sanitation staff member at the taluk panchayat office, urged officials to ensure that she received the minimum wage.
Lava, a sanitation worker at a gram panchayat, alleged that workers were being made to work beyond the prescribed hours. The complaints covered staff working with the municipality, taluk panchayat, gram panchayat and the tobacco auction market, highlighting differences in employment arrangements across local institutions.
Grade II Tahsildar Srinivas, taluk panchayat executive officer Sunil Kumar, municipal chief officer H. P. Madhu, Social Welfare Department assistant director Chandrashekhar, district Safai Karmachari Commission member Rajendra, former member H. K. Mahesh, and representatives of the ESI-PF department and Ambedkar Development Corporation attended the programme. The commission’s stated next step is to address workers’ grievances through the concerned officials.
