Mira-Bhayandar: 119 Hired Computer Operators, Clerks Face The Axe As MBMC Terminates Another Contract Over Labour Law Violations

Mira-Bhayandar: Less than a fortnight after the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) terminated the contract of a Nashik-based private agency that was hired to supply manpower to the civic body, another contractor met a similar fate for the delay in disbursal of salaries and violation of labour laws.

About The Termination Of Contract Order

The termination of contract order was issued by the deputy municipal commissioner (headquarters) Kalpita Pimple on Wednesday (12, February). Facing an acute shortage of manpower, the MBMC as a stop-gap arrangement appointed a Sion-based manpower supply agency in 2022 for outsourcing 119 contractual staffers including computer operators and clerks in various departments for a period of three years. However, after receiving complaints regarding alleged violation of labour laws by delaying disbursal of salaries and non-compliance with the minimum wages act which were some of the clauses inked in the agreement executed on 7, April 2022, the MBMC finally decided to act tough and terminated the contract.

Notably, a total of 11 show-cause notices were issued to the agency which responded twice but failed to give satisfactory explanations. Apart from the delays, the agency did not pay wages for six months in 2024, prompting the civic administration to transfer the amount directly to the bank accounts of the contractual employees, said an official.

Consequently, the security deposit (SD) paid by the agency while signing the agreement also stands to be forfeited, the order stated.  SDs can be forfeited if a contractor fails to accomplish their contractual obligations. With the exit of the contractual workforce, the MBMC plans to float fresh tenders while chalking out a roadmap to recruit staffers on its payroll as per the staffing pattern approved by the state government in 2019. Although 1,321 out of 2704 sanctioned posts are lying vacant, administrative expenses mainly salaries to 1383 staffers hovers above Rs 192.59 crores.