Shimla, May 17
Communist Party of India (Marxist) has extended support to the ongoing strike by SEHAB workers engaged in door-to-door garbage collection by the Shimla Municipal Corporation and strongly criticised the administration for imposing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) during the 14-day agitation.
In a statement issued on Sunday, CPI(M) District Secretary Vijendra Mehra, Local Committee Secretary Jagat Ram and Kusumpati Local Committee Chairman Jaishiv Thakur termed the administration’s action “dictatorial” and accused the civic body of adopting anti-labour policies.
The party said SEHAB workers were initially engaged by the Municipal Corporation with the promise of a 10 percent annual salary hike. However, the administration has now allegedly abolished the annual increment and replaced it with a three percent dearness allowance, which the party termed unjustified.
The CPI(M) demanded restoration of the 10 percent annual salary increment, reinstatement of 15 days special leave, gratuity, full bonus and holiday benefits, proper implementation of EPF and ESI provisions, equal pay for equal work in accordance with Supreme Court directions and enforcement of the 4-9-14 pay scale.
The party leaders alleged that the workload of SEHAB workers has increased sharply over the years, with each worker now covering nearly 300 households compared to around 80 earlier, without any proportionate increase in wages.
They also questioned the Municipal Corporation’s reported expenditure of nearly ₹2.5 crore on QR code-related works, claiming the amount could have been utilised to recruit more workers and reduce the burden on existing employees.
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The CPI(M) further alleged irregularities in EPF and ESI benefits and accused the administration of denying overtime wages, paid holidays and other legal entitlements to the workers.
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