WRD workers demand unpaid salaries by today

SANGUEM: The contract employees of Water Supply Department (WRD) at Sanguem have bitterly complained of nonpayment of their wages for last eight months despite several requests and reminders for the same.

Given the lethargic attitude of the officials and the contractors in making the payment, the workers on Tuesday met the water supply department officials at Sanguem along with the former MLA Subhash Phaldessai and inquired over the nonpayment of wages for last eight months.

The officials, however, were not in a position to give concrete answer to the questions raised by the workers and were only pushing the blame on the next person in the department.

Phaldessai warned that if the workers are not paid their dues by Wednesday, given the fact that Ganesh festival is at the door step, the workers would not keep quiet and would agitate for immediate payment of their wages.

Phaldessai claimed that some fifteen days back, he had visited the office of the water supply department over the delay caused in payment of wages to the workers, but the officials failed to give a concrete answer. He informed that there is also a need in getting the history of the contractor involved in employing the labourers without having the capacity to pay for their wages.

Phaldessai threatened to lead an agitation of workers if the authorities fail to pay their wages by Wednesday.