Navi Mumbai: About 7,000 contractual employees of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) are set to receive an additional Rs 7,000-Rs 8,000 in monthly wages if a proposal prepared by Leader of the House in NMMC and former Mayor Sagar Naik is approved at the next general body meeting on May 20.The proposal followed sustained demands by Shramik Sena Sanghatana (SSS) of the NMMC Unit, which said many contractual workers struggled to manage on current pay despite being paid under Equal Work Equal Pay and the Minimum Wage Act.Forest minister Ganesh Naik backed the proposal to provide justice to the employees. Ram Chavan, secretary of SSS-NMMC Unit, said, “In order to provide Civil Service Operation Special Allowance, this proposal will definitely be unanimously approved by Mayor Sujata Patil and Deputy Mayor Dashrath Bhagat and NMMC commissioner as well.”Charan Jadhav, general secretary of SSS, said at least one important employee issue would be resolved in every general meeting.Rajusingh Chavan, chairman of SSS-NMMC Unit, said, “Every employee will be given a special allowance so that everyone can experience Diwali before Diwali and SSS is appealing to everyone to be present at the NMMC headquarters in large numbers to experience the joy on May 20.”Sagar Naik said the proposal would bring relief to about 7,000 families who endured hardship for several years on minimum wages, which he said were “accounted for Rs 20K” at a time when inflation affected contractual workers, including road sweepers and domestic garbage collectors. “We are hopeful that the proposal will pass through unanimously for the welfare of so many employees,” said Naik.
