Sanitation workers from Ward No. 72 in Ghansoli have received two months’ pending wages in cash following a determined protest that brought their issues into the spotlight.
The workers had been demanding payment of their salaries for March, April, and May 2025, along with 14 months of unpaid Provident Fund contributions and arrears in the Special Living Allowance. "Despite repeated appeals to the Solid Waste Management Department, no action had been taken," said a member.
Frustrated by the continued neglect, the workers, along with union representatives, had threatened to go on strike and declared that if their demands were not met by Monday, they would resort to begging outside the Municipal Commissioner’s residence to sustain themselves and their families. This extreme step was also submitted as a written notice on Friday.
The threat, combined with widespread media attention, prompted swift action from the authorities. "Two months’ wages were released in cash to the workers. In addition, officials have assured that the remaining one month’s salary, along with all other pending dues including Provident Fund contributions, will be cleared at the earliest," said a representative.
