Workers of Muncipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have been demonstrating at Parliament since November 19, to press for their long pending demands and the demonstration is still continuing.

According to the press release issues by the union, thousands of workers are demonstrating in support of their demands that have remained unfulfilled for the past 35 years. The condition of workers has not improved even a little after so many years.

A representative of the workers demonstrating said that when they go on protest the department makes a big show of taking decisions to pacify the agitating workers and then quietly closes the files. All the casual workers have been waiting to be regularized since 2003, while as per the law workers working for more than 240 days in a year should be made regular employees. He also said that the workers are not being paid as per the increased wage structure.

Another representative said that although making somebody work for more than 8 hours is illegal the security guards on casual appointment are being made to work beyond this.  Class IV workers are forced to work under such conditions and endure intense exploitation for fear of losing their only source of livelihood. He also pointed out that the departmental promotions must be based on competence, eligible workers should be appointed as teachers, position vacant for the post of school attendants and nursery helpers (ayaa) must be filled immediately and all employees must be provided with a uniform.

The agitating workers said that the previous decision for creation of 1535 new posts, ensuring 8-hour working day and adjusting of security as per the panel have run into trouble. Now the department is making a case for privatisation of the Corporation and they are completely opposed to this move.