Pourakarmikas’ salaries doubled

It’s a windfall for thousands of civic workers (pourakarmikas) across the state. Their salaries have nearly doubled and will be effective from this month.

The hike represents the single largest increment for the oft-low paid workers, and officials said it would make the Bengaluru workers among the highest paid in the country.

The hike – which has been asked for years, often through protests and bandhs – was officially declared on August 4 by the Labour Department. While civic workers employed by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were being paid Rs. 7,730 (including provident fund and Employee’s State Insurance Corporation) till last month, the minimum wage has been hiked to Rs. 14,040. A similar hike was announced for civic workers associated with other urban local bodies in the state. This is apart from the Rs. 3,000 that is being given as risk allowance for civic workers each month since March.

“Hikes in the past have only been a few hundred rupees. With this hike, thousands of workers across the state can start to lead a better life. The disparity in minimum wage for those in private employment and those in government departments has been set right,” Narayana, Chairperson of the Karnataka Safai Karamchari Commission told reporters on Tuesday.