Madras HC refuses to quash GCCs decision to privatise garbage disposal work

CHENNAI: In a setback to the sanitary workers of Zones 5 and 6 of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the Madras high court on Wednesday refused to quash the resolution passed by the GCC to privatise garbage disposal work.“Since the service of the workers is not terminated, the question of retrenchment does not arise,” Justice K Surender said while disposing of the plea moved by the sanitary workers.On August 13, when the court reserved its order on the plea, the workers submitted that they were willing to call off their agitation and resume work immediately, provided the GCC agreed to abide by the decision of the Industrial Disputes Tribunal in the case concerning the outsourcing of garbage disposal.

Refusing to accept the proposal, the GCC submitted that out of the 16 zones, 11 were already privatised. Even for Zones 5 and 6, tenders were floated, and contracts were awarded. Only two more zones remain to be outsourced.The GCC added that the agitating workers were not workmen of the GCC. They were engaged from Self Help Groups (SHGs) for the work on a contract basis.The contractor, Delhi MSW Solutions Limited (earlier Ramky), assured that all the workers would be absorbed with a higher pay scale.

In addition, they would receive a series of other benefits too.It added that unless the remaining workers joined, it would be forced to look for alternatives. The contractor has now agreed to extend the cutoff date for the workers to join until August 31, its counsel said.To this, the workers contended that the pay offered by the contractor would not be higher than what the workers were getting now but would be less than the minimum wage applicable in the state. They would be drawing a daily wage of Rs 196 per day less than what they were getting now, they added.