Pourakarmikas who were protesting against non-payment of wages by not clearing garbage in Jayanagar and surrounding areas for the last three days, reported back to work on Friday. But officials said it will take at least two days for the accumulated garbage to be cleared. Keshava Kumar N, president of Jayanagar Residents’ Welfare Civic and Cultural Association, told Express that the pourakarmikas weren’t paid salary for the past three months. “How can they be expected to work without being given salary?” he asked. C K Ramamurthy, councillor of Pattabhiramanagar ward in Jayanagar, accused the BBMP of not having cleared dues to contractor BVG India Ltd, which was given six packages. This includes Pattabhiramanagar, Sarakki, Byrasandra, Shakambarinagar, Sunkenahalli, Chikpet and JP Nagar. “There are around 600 personnel, including pourakarmikas and garbage truck and auto drivers, in these wards. All of them were on protest,” he said. He said the civic body paid up `50 lakh on Thursday evening. Meanwhile, Balan, president of BBMP Contract Pourakarmikas’ Association, said, “Pourakarmikas will get their salary soon and are already back at work. But it will take them at least two days to clear the accumulated garbage.” However, he conceded that many contract pourakarmikas don’t get their salaries on time. According to the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, the employer has to pay the salary on or before the seventh of every month. But many contract pourakarmikas don’t get salary for months.