New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner Sanjiv Khirwar held a detailed meeting with civic employee union leaders, where key issues related to contract workers, payments, and sanitation operations were discussed at length.
During the meeting, union representatives raised strong objections to the deployment of around 600 contract workers, particularly in high-risk areas such as railway tracks. They argued that the arrangement was unnecessary and questioned why regular MCD staff were not being utilised instead.
Union leaders also expressed concerns over the financial burden on MCD, alleging that large sums were being spent through contractors while workers received minimal benefits. They suggested that salaries should be paid directly by MCD to ensure transparency and to prevent alleged commission cuts by contractors.
In response, Commissioner Khirwar stated that the decision to deploy contract workers was taken to address operational challenges in areas where regular staff were hesitant to work due to safety concerns. He emphasised that regular employees remain a priority for the corporation and assured that their interests would be protected.
The Commissioner clarified that the current arrangement is temporary and will be reviewed after six months, indicating that it is not intended as a long-term outsourcing policy. He also noted that payments from the Railways for the work carried out are still under discussion and have not yet been received.
Union representatives, however, remained firm on their demand to eliminate the role of contractors and insisted that MCD should directly manage both recruitment and salary disbursement. They also highlighted safety concerns, urging the administration to ensure proper protection measures for workers deployed in hazardous zones.
After extensive discussions, both sides agreed to continue dialogue, with the Commissioner assuring a review of deployment and operational strategy at the end of the current period. The meeting concluded with a tentative understanding to reassess the system and address workers’ concerns in subsequent orders.
