Following a meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, sanitation workers announced the end of their strike on Friday. Notably, a meeting of representatives of the Sanitation Workers’ Union took place with Cabinet Minister Shri Vipul Goyal and Cabinet Minister Shri Krishan Bedi, resulting in a consensus on their demands.
During the meeting, an agreement was reached to provide a monthly uniform allowance of ₹440 to sanitation workers in place of a lump-sum uniform allowance. The demand for ‘equal pay for equal work’ and arrears has already been paid out to eligible employees. As per the demand, LTC benefits are being provided to sanitation workers on the municipal roll under instructions. Instructions have been issued to conduct an annual medical check-up of sanitation workers and sewermen (regular, municipal roll, and HKRNL) through the Health Department at the expense of the municipal corporation/local body.
Meanwhile, in-principle approval was granted to extend the benefits of the cashless medical policy applicable to government employees to regular employees, pensioners, and their dependents of municipal corporations. In addition, instructions have already been issued by the department to provide a risk allowance of ₹2,000 per month to sanitation workers on the municipal roll. Agreement was also reached to provide a risk allowance to regular employees.
In the meeting, in-principle approval was given to increase the benefit under the ‘Chief Minister Haryana Employee Accident Insurance Scheme’ from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh for sanitation workers on the municipal roll (sanitation workers, sewermen, and sanitation darogas / head sewermen) in the event of death on duty.
Additionally, an agreement was reached that sanitation workers and sewermen on the municipal roll who open a savings account with SBI Bank will receive ₹50 lakh in case of accidental death and permanent disability, and ₹25 lakh for partial disability from the bank. Furthermore, in-principle approval was granted to include municipal roll sanitation workers and sewermen in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana—Chirayu. The annual premium of ₹9,203 per employee will be paid by the respective municipal body.
In the meeting, in-principle approval was also given to grant a total of 20 medical leaves in a calendar year and to amend the relevant service rules for the promotion of eligible sanitation workers and sewermen to clerk (Group C) posts. In-principle agreement was reached to increase the salary of sewermen working on the municipal roll by ₹2,100. Minimum prescribed wages for sanitation workers and sewermen working through outsourcing agencies, as well as ESI and EPF benefits for eligible employees, will be ensured.
Regarding vacant positions of sewermen and sanitation workers, it was agreed that after the government sets the recruitment procedure, selection criteria will be finalized within one month, and advertisements will be issued within 15 days. A union representative will also be a member of the criteria committee. Recruitment for vacant posts will continue from time to time.
Agreement was reached on reinstating suspended regular employees. Furthermore, an agreement was reached to re-engage municipal roll/HKRNL employees who were removed from service. Further action will be taken as per rules upon the withdrawal of cases. The strike period will be adjusted by performing extra work hours. It was also agreed in the meeting that under the Job Security Act, there is a provision to provide a job and gratuity to the family after death, which can be granted.
Additionally, a meeting was also held with the Haryana Fire Department Employees’ Union, where in-principle agreement was reached on their demands as well. The union demanded that the family members of the fire department martyrs, Late Bhavichand Sharma and Late Ranbir, be paid the pending amount and granted regular employment. The union had requested ₹50 lakh for each family.
The government has already paid ₹60 lakh to the family of Shri Bhavichand Sharma, out of which ₹20 lakh was provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, ₹10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Employee Accident Security Scheme, and ₹30 lakh by the Bank of Maharashtra under an MoU.
The family of Shri Ranbir has been paid ₹30 lakh, of which ₹20 lakh came from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and ₹10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Employee Accident Security Scheme. The remaining ₹20 lakh will be released soon. Apart from this, the government has approved framing a policy to provide ₹50 lakh in the event of a death in such accidents.
If any member of the families of both deceased employees applies for a job on compassionate grounds, action will be taken as per the rules.
Another demand of the union was to regularize the employees on the fire pay-roll. It was agreed that recruitment criteria for vacant posts of Fire Operator-cum-Driver will be framed within 45 days, and an advertisement will be issued 15 days thereafter. Additionally, a union representative will be a member of the criteria committee.
Furthermore, a risk allowance of ₹5,000 per month and an annual uniform allowance of ₹7,500 will be provided. Regular employees will not face a service break due to the strike. The strike period for pay-roll employees will be adjusted against Extra Duty Leave.
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