Ban contractual system for sanitary workers by enacting law: Grewal urges President of India

In a significant move, Mr. Chandan Grewal, Chairman of the Punjab State Safai Karamchari Commission, has formally petitioned the President of India, Mrs. Droupadi Murmu, to address the longstanding issue of contractual employment among sanitary workers by advocating for the creation of a protective law.

In his letter to the President, Mr. Grewal commended her commitment to initiatives aimed at uplifting the weaker sections of society. He highlighted the persistent neglect faced by safai sewaks, the frontline workers responsible for maintaining public cleanliness, by successive central governments.

These workers, Mr. Grewal argued, have been overlooked despite their critical role in promoting health and hygiene across communities.

He lamented that the rights of these essential workers remain unprotected, a situation exacerbated by their employment under contractual terms.

Such arrangements, he noted, lead to their systematic exploitation, insecurity in employment, and insufficient wages. While acknowledging that Punjab has prohibited the contractual hiring of sanitary workers, Mr. Grewal pointed out the dismal conditions prevailing in other regions of the country.

He called upon the President to intervene and urge the Government of India to introduce legislation in Parliament that would abolish the contractual employment system for sanitary workers nationwide, thereby securing their rights and livelihoods.