No headway in talks between GCC and conservancy workers

Even as the protest by conservancy workers of Royapuram and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar zones entered the tenth day, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) formally began regular garbage collection with workers from a private firm. A salary revision for conservancy workers is expected within the next four months, said a senior official from the GCC.

According to sources in the Chennai Corporation, roughly 150 temporary sanitation workers began work through Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, the private firm roped in for solid waste management in Royapuram and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar zones (V and VI) on Saturday. More than 300 workers are expected to join in the coming days, sources said.

“These workers were earlier employed with GCC through National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) and have now joined by submitting letters of consent. The company was required to appoint 3,809 sanitation workers under the contract, but has only appointed 1,770 so far. The remaining 2,039 posts (975 in zone V and 1,059 in zone VI) are still reserved for the NULM workers currently protesting,” said the Corporation.

Joint Commissioner (Health) V.P. Jeyaseelan said privatisation has proven to be a better model than the GCC itself handling solid waste management.

“Since August 1, 2025, some workers have chosen not to take up the job and have been staging protests. This has led to a temporary disruption in waste collection in zones V and VI, affecting public spaces and posing potential health risks… the situation could be resolved if the protesting workers consider joining the new system, which offers assured employment, full legal protection, and enhanced welfare measures.”

“Since 2000, private conservancy in Chennai has proven to be successful with transparent monitoring, faster public grievance redressal and three-shift operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the fifth round of talks continued between the workers’ organisation and GCC officials, yet no resolution was reached, said S. Janakiraman, general secretary, Uzhaippor Urimai Sangam. “The workers are not willing to join for lower pay and without job security. The protests will continue,” he said.

Thirumaeshwari, a conservancy worker at the protest, said many are ready to clean the streets even for free but will not join a private firm as job permanency has to be offered by the State.

A senior Corporation official said salaries for all sanitary workers will be made uniform, as a salary revision might occur within four months.