As many as 750 housekeeping staff working with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. have also not been paid their minimum wages for several months.
According to an organisation working for manual scavengers, the contractual-staff supplied by three private agencies have been earning only ₹7,000 a month against the prescribed ₹14,040 by the Labour Department.
The Dalit Bhahujan Movement, which became aware of the issue recently, conducted an on-ground survey of housekeeping staff working from Mysuru Road to Majestic Stations and found that none of the worker were given their due salaries. “We gave a written complaint to the Karnataka State Safai Karamchari Commission and the Labour Department highlighting the issue two months ago. On October 17, members from both the departments met the BMRCL officials and officials of the private agencies at the Baiyappanahalli Metro Station for a discussion. The agencies agreed that they were paying ₹7,000 to employees,” said Venkatesh M., member of the movement.
Apart from salary, basic provisions such as regular health check-up and safety equipment have been denied to these employees, he alleged. “There was an open discussion, in which housekeeping staff working at the Baiyappanahalli station also gave their viewpoint. Most either don’t have PF account or are unaware of the number. They also raised issue of the company not paying them money for the casual leaves not used or money for working on festival day,” said Pushpalatha, Manual Scavenging State Monitoring Committee member, who was part of the meeting recently.
Written recommendations have been sent to BMRCL and the three agencies, which they have promised to address. “Though it has outsourced the work, it is BMRCL’s responsibility to see of employees were getting their dues,” said Mr. Venkatesh, adding that it was positive meeting and his organisation will be following up to see the promise is fulfilled.
Stating that a meeting had been held on Monday on the matter, Pradeep Singh Kharola, BMRCL MD, said: “We have been ensuring that all employees are paid minimum wages.”
