VELLORE: Contract sanitary workers petitioned the district administration to take necessary steps to look into the irregularities in deducting ESI, PF and Insurance amount from their salary during the grievance day meeting here on Monday.
The workers also planned to go on an indefinite strike from September 15, if they do not receive a positive response before September 10 from the officials.
As many as 800 corporation contract sanitary workers have been working for more than seven years. From April 2014, the ESI, PF and insurance was being deducted for all contract workers and when they demanded proper receipts, the officials did not respond.
“Five months ago, they increased the daily wages from Rs 150 to Rs 298.50. After the increase, they started PF, ESI and Insurance deductions. We asked for proper receipt for the amount deducted from the civic officials but they directed us to the contractors but we don’t know who the contractor is,” said A C Perumal, district president, All India Scheduled Caste Yuvjan Samaj.
Corporation Commissioner Janaki Raveendaran said,“The workers blaming the corporation is illogical. They should ask the employers’ (contractors) for receipts.” City Health Officer Vasanth Diwakar said, “Already we proposed a tender and the contractors were assigned for contract workers. We are only the monitoring body. There is a delay in issuing the ESI number and PF receipts. We checked with the contractors and they have registered and deposited the amounts in PF office. They have to issue the numbers and receipt to workers.
Vellore municipality was upgraded as Corporation seven years ago. Around 128 contract workers, who worked in panchayats, which were later attached to Corporation are still getting the same pay of Rs 42 for four hours. “We are demanding a pay hike but no action has been taken,” said a worker.