Sanitary workers of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation took out a rally from Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram to the Sub Collector’s office here on Tuesday, demanding that the State government increase their minimum wage. The rally culminated into a sit-in protest there.
Minimum wage
Later, the workers submitted a representation to the officials on their demands.
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The sanitary workers, carrying brooms and CITU flags, staged a protest braving incessant rain. They said the government had fixed the minimum wage at Rs.6,700 three years ago. There was no revision in the wage though the cost of living increased considerably. The government was urged to increase the wage and pay Rs.12,500 per month, they said. Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao said the government had no concern for workers who toiled day and night to keep the city spick and span. The minimum wage was not revised in last three years though the cost of living increased many times. The government was asked to increase the minimum wage to Rs.12,500 to workers in municipalities and corporations. The services of contract employees and NMRs should be regularised. Ex gratia of Rs.5 lakh should be paid to the next of kin of employees who died in office. The workers should be given DA, ESI, and PF dues as demanded by the workers, he said.
Workers’ Union leader S. Yella Rao, Contract and Outsourcing Employees’ Union leader Prabhu Das, CITU leaders, and CPI(M) leader B. Satyababu were present.