Chandigarh, Sep 2 (PTI) In view of the ongoing strike by sanitation workers, the Haryana government on Wednesday said it has kept the channel of dialogue open at every stage and held several meetings with union representatives to resolve the issue, while already accepting most of their demands.
The government also said it has taken several steps in view of the situation arising from the strike by the Municipal Employees’ Union, Haryana.
The union had earlier gone on strike from May 1 to May 14. Following a meeting with the government on May 13, the strike was withdrawn on May 14. Since then, the union has been apprised from time to time of the progress made on its demands, an official statement said.
Subsequently, the union announced a three-day strike from August 6, which has been continuing.
The government said it has kept the channel of dialogue open at every stage. So far, six meetings have been held with representatives of the union — on May 13, July 29, August 5, August 14, August 22 and August 31.
At every meeting, the union was requested not to extend the strike while discussions for a resolution were underway, it said.
The government said only one demand remains pending — regularisation of the services of sanitation employees, sewer-men and fire employees working on the Municipal Roll.
Since the demand involves several legal aspects, the government said it is getting the matter examined from the legal perspective.
The statement said that after giving sympathetic consideration to the demands of sanitation and fire department employees, the government has already accepted almost all of them in principle.
A uniform allowance of Rs 440 per month is already being paid along with salary. The benefit of equal pay for equal work, along with arrears, has already been provided to eligible employees, and LTC benefits are also being extended.
In addition, in-principle approval has been given for payment of minimum wages prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act, provision of Employee State Insurance (ESI) and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) benefits to eligible employees, and payment of a risk allowance of Rs 2,000 per month to sanitation employees, among other benefits.
The government is prepared to bring these employees under the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024, so that they can receive benefits broadly similar to those available to regular employees and have security of service up to the age of 60 years.
It is also prepared to provide them a monthly salary higher than the amount they would be eligible to receive under the Act, the statement said.
The government maintained that sanitation is not merely a routine municipal function but a matter of public health and said it could not allow citizens’ health to be put at risk.
Under its directions, garbage is being regularly lifted from collection points and transported to designated dumping sites. Wherever required, additional manpower has been deployed through contractual agencies, and door-to-door garbage collection continues across all municipalities.
Lime is being spread after cleaning operations, spraying is being carried out to eliminate foul odour and regular fogging is also being undertaken.
The statement said it was regrettable that at some places employees willing to work were prevented from doing so and municipal vehicles and machinery were damaged.
It said going on strike did not mean employees willing to perform their sanitation duties could be prevented from working, describing such actions as unlawful. Sanitation, it said, was a public duty towards every citizen of the state.
The government said its difference of opinion with the union was limited to a legal and procedural issue and not related to the dignity or respect of the employees. It appealed to the workers to return to duty.
It warned that if any sanitation employee obstructed government work, the government would be compelled to take the strictest possible legal and departmental action. PTI SUN APL APL
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