Chandigarh: Sanitation workers in Punjab on Monday announced the withdrawal of their strike after reaching an agreement with the state government, which approved a substantial increase in their monthly wages and announced additional measures to address their demands.
Under the agreement, the monthly salary of contractual sanitation workers has been increased from ₹10,500 to ₹20,500, with the revised wages set to take effect from August 1, the government said.
The state government also announced the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Barnala lathi-charge incident, a key demand raised by protesting workers.
The strike, which had continued for several days, had disrupted sanitation services in several cities and towns across Punjab, affecting municipal corporations, municipal councils and panchayats.
Welcoming the agreement, representatives of the sanitation workers said they had been protesting for a long time over their pending demands and described the wage hike as a significant achievement. They expressed hope that the government would continue to consider their remaining demands in a positive manner.
The government said sanitation workers and sewermen play a vital role in maintaining cleanliness in both urban and rural areas and reaffirmed its commitment to taking measures for their welfare.
With the strike now called off, sanitation services across the state are expected to return to normal, bringing relief to residents affected by the disruption.
