Bengaluru, 26 Sept

Karnataka State Municipal Corporation and Civil Workers Association called on the State government on Thursday to abolish the contract labour system and grant permanent employment to sanitation workers, particularly those employed in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

The association said that the government in 2018 had agreed to transition 24,500 workers to direct wage payments, yet many sanitation workers in Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi remain in a precarious position.

BM Suresh Babu, President of the Civil Workers Association, expressed his frustration over the lack of progress. “We have been waiting for years. Despite multiple promises, the permanent list for BBMP workers is still not fully released,” he told Salar News. “BBMP is yet to finalise the list of 14,980 workers eligible for permanent status. This affects sanitation workers, including garbage lorry drivers, auto drivers, and cleaners, who diligently work to keep the City clean.”

Sudhakar S, a garbage lorry driver told Salar News, “Working as a driver on a contract basis has proven to be a real problem. Without permanent status, we miss out on benefits such as pensions, insurance, and proper healthcare for our families, which is a significant worry.”

Lalitha P, another BBMP sanitation worker, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Without job security, we do not know if we will have work next month. Contracts can be terminated unexpectedly, leaving us to struggle with our expenses.”

The association has also called for the permanent status of sanitation staff in the State’s drainage boards and emphasised that workers approaching retirement age (60) should receive their dues, with job opportunities extended to their next of kin. -Salar News