Bhayandar: Already under the scanner for awarding a manpower supply contract much below the amount prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has now been pulled up by the Maharashtra State Commission for Safai Karmacharis for depriving workers of their justified rights, clearly indicating towards deep-rooted financial irregularities.
The matter came to light after the commission slapped a show cause notice to MBMC seeking clarity over allegations related to violation of govt guidelines and exploitation of workers by the agencies deployed by the civic administration for the upkeep of community toilet complexes (CTC).
The MBMC has awarded contracts to 11 different social organiastions for the day-to-day maintenance of the 177 CTCs comprising around 3,500 toilet seats across the the twin-city. The civic administration pays Rs. 24,000 per 30 toilet seats every month. However, it has been alleged that the most of the agencies which have been roped in for the work are exploiting the workers by depriving them of the minimum wages, insurance, PF and also take back money after making payments through the bank on the virtue of signed withdrawal slips and ATM cards.
“Notices have been issued to the concerned agencies and process was on to invite fresh tenders,” said deputy civic chief Dr. Sambhaji Panpatte. It should be noted that despite a notification issued by the Labour Department revising the Minimum Wages Act with effect from February 24, 2015, the private contractors and the MBMC as their principal employer continue to flout the law with impunity.
