The Karnataka State Municipal Workers’ Association, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, while welcoming the High Court of Karnataka’s directive to urban local bodies (ULBs) to regularise services of pourakarmikas on contract, has objected to the move to recruit new pourakarmikas.
Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, association president S. Prasannakumar said that instead, ULBs should regularise the services of pourakarmikas who have been working on contract for over 15 years. “The same yardstick should apply to all contract employees, including watermen, drivers and computer operators. They have been made to work for around 18 hours a day at a pittance and do not get any benefits, such as Provident Fund and Employees State Insurance.”