Salary cuts spark municipal employees’ protest

Shadnagar: The salary cut has triggered resentments among a section of municipal employees and they have been on strike for a week. The work inspectors and computer operators of Shadnagar Municipality said that the implementation of government orders has led to a significant reduction in their wages compared to what they had earlier received. On the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday they sported black badges as a mark of protest. To seek a resolution, the employees submitted a petition to MLA Veerlapalli Shankar at his camp office. They explained that after the government order issued on July 12, their salaries were reduced. Work inspectors, who earlier received Rs 22,750, are now being paid only Rs 16,600. Computer operators are currently receiving Rs 19,500.

The employees said that the reduced salaries have made it difficult to manage monthly household expenses, children’s education, rent, loan repayments, and other necessities. They emphasised that despite carrying out important municipal duties and implementing government programmes for the public, this situation has become unbearable.

They revealed that for the past two months they have refused to accept the reduced wages. Continuing their protest, they demanded restoration of their previous salaries. They clarified that they are not asking for additional pay, but only for the continuation of the wages they had been receiving earlier.

The employees urged MLA Shankar to bring their issue to the government’s attention, remove the salary cuts, and reinstate the old pay structure, considering the financial burden falling on their families.

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The Hans India