Mumbai News: BMC To Implement 'Service-Based' Waste Management System After Labour Unions Call Off Protest

The BMC will go ahead to implement its plan of 'service based' waste management system, which will outsource collection, transport and disposal of garbage in all almost 21 wards.

8,000 Contractual Workers to Be Regularised as Part of Settlement

The labour unions were protesting against this privatisation of solid waste management services in Mumbai, however, they officially protest on Monday after the BMC accepted their demands of employment permanency of 8,000 contractor workers and others.

The BMC’s Solid Waste Management Department had issued a tender on May 14, 2025, proposing a single agency to handle waste collection, transport, manpower, and vehicle maintenance citywide. However, a joint committee of seven labour unions had demanded its cancellation, warning of a strike by all conservancy workers. 

Single Agency to Handle Citywide Garbage Collection and Disposal

Mumbai generates approximately 7,000 tonnes of waste daily. To manage this, around 1,334 vehicles are deployed some owned by the BMC, while the majority are provided by private contractors.

The BMC has scheduled posts of 31,000 sweepers, of which 8,000 are on contractual basis while some are vacant. 

Unions Withdraw Opposition to SWM Tender, End Threat of Strike

The demands of labour unions included regularisation of contractual workers, benefits of all cleaning staff in BMC, including in hospitals and Deonar abattoir under the category of 'sweepers' and assurance that the existing SWM labourers will not loose their jobs. 

"The municipal commissioner has accepted our demands. No existing worker will loose job, while 8000 contractual labourers will be regularised. We take back our opposition to the solid waste management tender floated on May 14 and any court cases filed on this issue will also be taken back," the labour union said in their media statement on Monday.