Daily wage garbage workers of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) on Monday refused to report for duty after their work orders expired on November 2, demanding renewal of their contracts and full payment for the month of October.
According to sources, MMC Chairperson’s attempts to persuade and allegedly threaten the workers to resume duties without valid work orders failed, as the workers stood firm on their demand for proper documentation before continuing work.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The workers questioned the MMC Chairperson, asking, “If the work orders were ready, why were the daily wage road workers given a day off today?” They also raised concerns over discrepancies in wage calculations, pointing out that while they had worked for 31 days plus three public holidays, the Council had processed wages for only 26 days in October.
Mr. Savio Coutinho, President of the Bhimshakti Sangatan (South Goa Unit), along with his team, met the protesting workers and assured them of full support in their fight for fair treatment and job security.
Later, the workers submitted a written representation to the MMC Chief Officer, highlighting their grievances about unpaid wages and the delay in issuing renewed work orders.
The agitation has disrupted garbage collection operations in parts of Margao, with workers stating they will resume duties only after their work orders are officially renewed and pending wage issues resolved.
