The Hindu         03.10.2011

GVMC increases wages of sanitation workers

GVMC has increased wages of sanitation workers with immediate effect benefiting a total of 5,013 workers. This fulfils a promise made by Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu during a wild cat strike by workers a few months ago that wages according to GO 333 would be paid by October 2 and if it was not done, he would be accountable.

Announcing the increase and other decisions of the corporation at a press conference here on Sunday, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao said wages would go up from Rs.3,900 a month to Rs.6,700. After deduction of PF and ESI, the increase will be from Rs.3,286 to Rs.5,644. The increase of Rs.2,358 per worker means an additional outgo of Rs.19.94 crore a year to the corporation. With the increase, the total wage bill of sanitation workers per year comes to Rs.47.7 crore. Though it was a burden on the corporation, the decision to increase wages was taken considering their services to the city and keeping it clean. Besides, the salary increase would also be made applicable to workers in water supply, electricity and other wings costing another Rs.8 crore. The Mayor said the salary that was a mere Rs.1,000 at one point of time, now had gone up to Rs.5,644 as the present body had increased the wages from time to time as per the GOs issued.

CPI(M) and CPI floor leaders Botta Eswaramma and others were present.