Members of Chennai Metrowater Workers Union staged a demonstration on Friday, demanding better wages and job permanency.
Maduravoyal MLA G. Bheem Rao led the protest by the union, which is affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions. “Several labourers are working on a temporary basis for low wages for over a decade. While the government has fixed minimum wages at Rs. 293, the contract labourers of Metrowater get only Rs. 140,” he said.
The workers need to be given permanent jobs, he said, adding that as the city was expanding, there was a need for additional workers. At present, water pipelines cover a distance of 5,275 km across the city and added areas, he added.
The union members represented their woes to officials and are considering a day-long strike. There are over 1,000 contract labourers working on various projects of Chennai Metrowater, including the maintenance of water supply and the sewerage network, and the Veeranam scheme.