Haryana: Safai Karamcharis calls off strike after meeting Chief Minister

Chandigarh, September 11 – Safai Karamcharis on Friday announced the end of their strike after meeting Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, after agreeing to their demands. In particular, representatives of Safai Karamchari Union held a meeting with Cabinet Minister Sh. Vipul Goel and Cabinet Minister, Sh. Krishan Kumar Bedi during which an agreement was reached on their demands.

During the meeting, it was agreed that Safai Karamcharis would get a uniform allowance of Rs. 440 per month instead of a one-time uniform allowance. With respect to the demand for equal pay for equal work and arrears, the eligible employees have already been paid.

As requested, Safai Karamcharis on municipal rolls are extending LTC benefits as per guidelines. Instructions have also been issued for annual medical check-ups of Safai Karamcharis and canalists – regular, municipal and HKRNL – through the health department at the cost of the respective urban local bodies.

Furthermore, the extension of the benefit of the cashless medical policy applicable to civil servants to ordinary employees of municipal bodies, pensioners and their family members was also approved in principle. Besides, the Ministry has already issued instructions for payment of risk allowance of Rs. 2,000 per month to Safai Karamcharis in municipal roles. It was also agreed to extend the risk allowance to regular employees.

In the meeting, it was approved in principle to increase the amount under Mukhyamantri Haryana Karamchari Durghatna Bima Yojana from Rs. 5 thousand to Rs. 10 million inches

case of death in service of Safai workers on municipal rolls including Safai Karamcharis, Sewers and Safai Daroga/Chief Sewers.

It was further agreed that Safai Karamcharis and municipal account canalists who open savings accounts with SBI will be given Rs. 50 lakh from the bank in case of accidental death or permanent disability and Rs. 25 thousand in case of partial disability. The inclusion of Safai Karamcharis and canalists in municipal roles under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–CHIRAYU was also approved in principle. Annual premium of Rs. 9,203 per employee will be paid by the relevant urban local body.

In-principle approval was also given to grant a total of 20 days of medical leave in a calendar year and to amend the relevant service rules so that eligible Safai Karamcharis and canalists could be promoted to clerical posts (Group C). It has also been approved in principle to increase the monthly wages of canalists working on municipal roles by Rs. 2,100. Safai Karamcharis and canalists engaged through outsourcing agencies will be provided with prescribed minimum wages, ESI and EPF benefits will also be provided to eligible employees.

It was agreed that once the government determines the procedure for the recruitment of canalists and Safai Karamcharis, the selection criteria will be finalized within one month and the advertisement will be published within 15 days thereafter. A representative of the Union will also be a member of the committee established to determine the criteria. Recruitment for vacancies will continue from time to time.

It was also agreed to lift the suspension of regular employees. Apart from this, the employees of Municipality/HKRNL whose services have been terminated will be re-inducted into service. Further action regarding withdrawal of cases will be taken as per rules. The days of the strike period will be adjusted by carrying out overtime. It was also agreed that under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, there is a provision for employing a family member and gratuity after the death of an employee, which can be reasonably extended.

An agreement in principle reached based on the demands of the Haryana Fire Service Employees Union

A meeting was also held with the Haryana Firefighters Employees Union during which there was an in-principle agreement on its demands. The union demanded payment of dues and regular employment for firemen Bhavihand Sharma and Ranbir, who lost their lives in the line of duty. The Union demanded Rs. 50 million for each family.

The government has already provided Rs. 60 lakh to the family of Sh. Bhavichand Sharma, including Rs. 20 lakhs from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs. 10 lakh under Mukhyamantri Karamchari Durghatna Suraksha Yojana and Rs. 30 lakhs from Bank of Maharashtra under the MoU.

The family of Sh. Ranbir has already been given Rs. 30 lakh, including Rs. 20 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Rs. 10 lakh under Mukhyamantri Karamchari Durghatna Suraksha Yojana. Remaining Rs 20 crore will be released soon.

If any of the family members of the two deceased employees apply for employment on compassionate grounds, action will be taken as per the rules.

Another demand of the Union was to regularize the employees on the fire payroll. It was agreed that the recruitment criteria for the Fire Operator-cum-Driver vacancies would be drawn up within 45 days and the advertisement would be published within the next 15 days. A representative of the Union will also be a member of the committee formed to determine the criteria.

In addition, a risk premium of Rs. 5,000 and an annual uniform allowance of Rs. 7,500 will be provided. There will be no interruption of regular staff service due to the strike. The strike period of salaried employees will be adjusted by extraordinary leave.

Published – 12 September 2026 10:15 AM IST