AITUC, Tamilnadu Annal Ambedkar Health and Hygiene and General Workers Union and Janasakthi Mazdoor Sabha and other unions have filed a petition at the District Collector’s office, seeking an increase in the salaries of contract cleaners.

According to the petition, tens of thousands of cleaners have been hired on a contract and daily basis for the local government work in Coimbatore, including by the Corporation, municipality, and panchayat union.

Their salaries are very, very low. According to the Supreme Court order, they should be paid the same as permanent workers. Coimbatore Corporation alone employs about 3,000 cleaners on a contract basis.

They are paid only Rs. 375 per day. This too is accused of not being fully given. The District Collector should issue an order appointing a minimum wage of Rs. 676 for contract employees in Coimbatore, the petition said.