In Bengaluru, many waste collectors not paid for four months
Waste collectors in Bengaluru are facing severe financial hardship due to salary delays lasting up to four months. Workers and union representatives are criticizing the civic body and contractors for systemic payment failures and the targeting of those who speak out.
Why it matters
This highlights the precarious working conditions of essential municipal workers in rapidly growing urban centers.
Many of Bengaluru’s waste collectors are again struggling as they have not been paid salaries for several months. While their salaries have remained irregular and the contractors usually pay them once every two months, this time, in many areas, they haven’t gotten their salaries for nearly four months, making it difficult to make ends meet.
This comes even as Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda recently pointed out absenteeism among pourakarmikas who sweep the streets, drawing the ire of both pourakarmikas and waste collectors, who have demanded an apology.
“It is easy to pull up solid waste workers, who are one of the most vulnerable. But has the civic body fulfilled its responsibility towards them in the first place?” asked Appanna, of BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in