CHENNAI: Rural cleanliness workers from several districts staged a sit-in protest outside Panagal Maligai in Chennai on Thursday, demanding a revision of their wages.
The protest, led by AICCTU–LTUC and Uzhaipor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), saw participation from workers from Coimbatore, Erode, Namakkal, Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvallur districts.
Workers currently receive a consolidated pay of about Rs 5,000 a month, which unions say is far below the minimum wage applicable to employment under local authorities. Protesters demanded wages in line with GO No 62 of 2017, which prescribes a daily wage of Rs 492, amounting to Rs 12,492 a month.
"It has been our long-standing demand to implement the government order already issued," said S Janakiraman, State General Secretary, UUI. He said officials had assured wage revision without specifying the amount, following which the protest was called off. He added that the unions would continue to pursue the demand.
Rural cleanliness workers, most of them women, say they work around eight hours a day and lack basic protective gear. Though engaged in regular, year-round work, they are classified as temporary workers and are not covered by social security, insurance or pension benefits.