Date:31/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/31/stories/2008123160180500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

GVMC blamed for sanitary workers’ stir

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: The city unit of the CPI(M) has squarely blamed the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation for delaying the salary disbursal of 5,200 sanitary workers.

CPI (M) city secretary K. Loknadham told reporters on Tuesday that in response to a petition submitted by the party to the Deputy Commissioner of Labour, they received a clarification stating that it was the responsibility of principal employer to pay the wages. He said while municipal corporations in Hyderabad and Vijayawada had revised the wages of sanitary workers from Rs.2,300 to Rs.3,900 a month as per a GO issued in August, the GVMC had not implemented it yet. He said wages even at old rate were not disbursed for past three months under the pretext of opening bank accounts.

Mr. Loknadham said GVMC could be prosecuted for not paying wages before seventh of every month, which was mandatory as per rules. For an establishment with 1,000 or more workers, wages should be paid through bank before seventh of every month.