Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP leader
Chandigarh, July 27, 2016:
The AAP has condemned the Punjab government for cruelty, injustice and discrimination with Safai workers employed with different municipalities of the state. AAP spokesperson, Sukhpal Singh Kharia in a statement said the “Safai Sewaks” working with different municipalities of the state, were being denied even the basic right of minimum wages of labour as enshrined by the constitution of the country.
As per RTI information provided to Lakhwinder Kaur Phillaur an AAP activist, the said “Safai Sewaks” have been working with the municipalities of Phillaur, Morinda, Nabha, Moga, Garhshankar etc., for more than last 4 years. Some “Safai Sewaks” have completed even more than 10 years of employment with the said municipalities. As per RTI information, the “Safai Sewaks” have to work minimum 8-9 hours a day but unfortunately they are being paid a meager Rs. 2400 per month, which is much less than the Minimum wages of Rs. 7600 per month, as stipulated by the Punjab government.
The government is playing a very cruel joke with these “Safai Sewaks” by not even paying them meager Rs. 2400 per month fairly, as the cheques given to these employees are of Rs. 2110 per month only. (copy of cheques attached)
By exploiting the said poor people working as “Safai Sewaks”, the government is playing havoc with their lives and robbing each “Safai Sewak” of Rs. 5200 per month, i.e. the difference between minimum wages and actual salary being paid to them. This is sheer injustice, exploitation, discrimination and cruelty with the said poorest of poor underprivileged people, doing hard labour to make two ends of their lives meet.
It is very unfortunate, that the present government has also influenced its machinery and the State Information Commission to prevent information to our RTI activist Lakhwinder Kaur Phillaur, who has filed numerous RTI’s and appeals to know the reason for deduction of “Safai Sewak’s” salaries.
Therefore, keeping in view the pitiable exploitation of poor “Safai Sewaks”, AAP urges the Badal government to immediately take corrective measures and pay Rs. 7600 PM minimum wages to them for their hard labour. In case the state government fails to pay the “Safai Sewak’s” their legitimate dues, AAP would be left with no option but to knock the doors of Punjab and Haryana High Court, to ensure justice to the aggrieved poor “Safai Sewaks”.