CHENNAI: After the sanitary staff resumed their agitation last week, Chennai Enviro Solutions Private Limited (CESPL), the company contracted by the Greater Chennai Corporation to manage waste services in Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zones, promised to pay the workers revised wages of Rs 761 per day.
However, as per the press release issued by the company on Tuesday, the workers may not be entitled to paid weekly offs.
Following the Madras HC order directing the civic body to ensure that the workers get their last-drawn wages under the private firm, CESPL said on Tuesday that workers will get Rs 761 per day as wages under the new arrangement, amounting to a gross monthly salary of Rs 19,786, but will be paid only for 26 working days. They had earlier offered a gross monthly salary of Rs 16,950 at a daily wage of Rs 565 calculated for a period of 30 days.
The company, however, said it offers benefits including 35 paid leave days annually 12 days of casual leave, 12 days of earned leave, and 11 national holidays (with double wages for working on holidays).
Light motor vehicle drivers will now be paid Rs 838 per day (Rs 21,788 a month) and heavy motor vehicle drivers will get Rs 965 per day (Rs 25,090 a month). In addition, CESPL ‘extends beyond statutory requirements’, benefits including EPF, ESIC, gratuity, and bonus, labour welfare fund and multiple insurance protection such as natural death cover of Rs 55,000, accidental death cover of Rs 2,05,000, group personal accident policy of Rs 11,87,160, group term life insurance of Rs 1,00,000, employee deposit linked insurance of Rs 3,00,000, and TAHDCO coverage of Rs 10,00,000, the release said.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike by workers, which entered its second day on Tuesday, this time at Allikulam, led to police detaining the workers again. In the evening, the workers were told that they may go home but many of them stayed back, saying they would rather remain in the community halls where they were detained instead of being forcefully brought back again on Wednesday when they resume protest.
On Monday, 13 workers participating in the hunger strike at one of their residences in Korukkupet were detained by the police, along with around 200 workers who were there to express solidarity. The workers urged the police to arrange for a meeting with the Chief Minister MK Stalin to address their demands.
One of the protesting workers, Grace Mary, who is currently admitted to the Stanley hospital, said, “The police stepped on my chest during the detention on Monday. I’m yet to eat anything. Once I am discharged, I will rejoin the protest,” she said. Speaking to reporters, minister PK Sekarbabu declined to comment on the issue.