NMMC Workers Demand Equal Pay, Garbage Piles Up
Over 8,000 contractual workers employed by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) have embarked on an indefinite strike, bringing the city’s waste management system to a halt. The workers are protesting against long-standing wage disparities and demanding equal pay for equal work, in line with a policy that the NMMC adopted in 2007.
The strike is expected to have a severe impact on sanitation services, including garbage collection, road sweeping, and vector control measures, putting public health at risk. The dispute stems from a fundamental issue regarding the disparity in wages and benefits between permanent and contractual employees. While permanent workers are afforded a range of benefits such as gratuity, medical leave, provident fund, and uniforms, contractual workers remain excluded from these privileges. Furthermore, the workers have highlighted the stark contrast in salaries between new permanent employees hired in 2024 and those who have served for decades in a contractual capacity. Many of the striking workers have been employed with the NMMC for over 29 years but continue to receive substantially lower pay than their permanent counterparts.
The workers are demanding that their salaries be aligned with the pay scale of permanent fourth-class employees, as per the directives issued in 2007. Despite years of legal struggles and numerous committee reports, the issue remains unresolved. In 2022, a committee led by the NMMC’s Additional Commissioner concluded that granting equal pay would require an additional annual expenditure of Rs 20.43 crore. Although proposals for financial approval were sent to the state government, no concrete action has been taken.
The strike has prompted concerns about the mounting waste accumulation, which could lead to a public health crisis if it persists. Garbage collection, road sweeping, and sewage maintenance are all severely impacted by the ongoing protest. NMMC’s failure to address the issue has sparked frustration among workers, who are demanding immediate action. Union leader Mangesh Ladh has reiterated that the protest will continue until a formal written assurance is provided. Former corporator Divya Vaibhav Gaikwad has expressed hope that the NMMC Commissioner will resolve the matter swiftly to avoid a deterioration in public health and sanitation services across the city. As the strike enters its first day, the future of Navi Mumbai’s waste management system hangs in the balance, with workers showing no sign of backing down.
