Khaira flays Punjab govt for ‘underpaying’ safai workers
Thursday, 28/07/2016
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‘DENIAL OF MINIMUM WAGES’ Says 'safai sewaks’ are getting `2,400 against `8,000 fixed by the Central government for semi-skilled labourers
JALANDHAR: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Sukpal Singh Khaira criticised the state government for underpaying ‘safai sewaks’ working with different municipalities of the state.
Khaira, while showing the documents procured under the Right to Information Act (RTI) by his party worker, Lakhwinder Kaur Phillaur, said that 'safai sewaks’ are getting `2,400 against the `8,000 minimum wages fixed by the Central government for semi-skilled labourers.
He said, “It’s a matter of great shame that the underprivileged and downtrodden people, working as “safai sewaks” in different municipalities of the state, are being denied even the basic right of minimum wages as enshrined by the constitution of the country.”
It has come to the fore that safai sewaks have been working at meagre wages with the municipalities of Phillaur, Morinda, Nabha, Moga, Garhshankar and many others for more than last 4 years. While some workers have completed even more than 10 years of employment with these municipalities.
“We will hold a protest at Phillaur municipal council in coming days to press our demands. If the government failed to address the issue within two weeks, we will also move the high court.” AAP spokesperson said. On Navjot Singh Sindhu’s joining the AAP, Khaira said that the high command has already discussed it and conveyed the message that Sidhu would join the party very soon.
“He has a clean political image and we will be happy to have a strong leader like him ahead of Punjab assembly polls,” he added.
Taking a dig at chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for his statement in the Punjab and Haryana high court that law does not bar a chief minister from appointing a person with criminal antecedents as a minister, he said, “It shows the dignity and morality of the Badals. They can do anything to get votes,” Khaira said.
