Sanitary workers of the Melur municipality on Monday staged a road roko in Melur protesting against the privatisation of sanitary works in nine wards of the municipality.
The 58 permanent workers demanded that no outsider should be allowed by the contractor to carry out garbage collection and drainage cleaning work in the town.
They wanted the municipality to include 24 workers who had been earlier employed by the previous contractor.
“The previous contractor could not fulfil his commitments as 24 of his (contract) employees were not cooperating and also indulged in strike along with permanent workers on more than two occasions in the past. Now, another contractor from Madurai city has come forward to take up the work in the heart of the town,” the Commissioner, R. Surulinathan said.
The Commissioner said that the permanent employees cannot compel the contractor as to whom he should employ.
With the new contractor to begin his work on Tuesday, the municipal authorities have sought police protection anticipating trouble from the sanitary workers.
However, the workers who abstained from work in the morning returned in the evening, he added.
Melur municipality has 27 wards. A total of 30 persons would be employed by the contractor in the nine select wards.
The municipality is more worried about cleaning the drainage in the wake of the onset of monsoon to prevent outbreak of fever.
They protest against privatisation of sanitary works in select wards of Melur Municipality
