New Delhi - The ongoing work boycott by sanitation workers at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has intensified as more than 250 workers across campus joined the strike, which entered its fifth day . The workers are demanding their statutory bonus, proper documentation of wages, and improved working conditions.

The strike, which began with solid waste management workers, has now expanded to include sanitation workers from all sectors of the university. At the heart of the dispute is the workers' demand for their rightful bonus, which according to the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, should amount to one month's salary (approximately Rs 18,263).

Workers have expressed outrage over what they describe as a "humiliating" offer from Rakshak Securitas Pvt. Ltd., the contracting company, which proposed a bonus of merely Rs 50-100 per worker. "This offer is not just inadequate, it's insulting to the dignity of sanitation workers," said a representative from the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) JNU unit.

The protesters have outlined several key demands:

• Immediate payment of statutory bonus equivalent to one month's salary

• Provision of proper salary slips as mandated by the Payment of Wages Act

• Supply of essential safety equipment including gloves and masks

• An end to arbitrary retrenchment practices

• Recruitment of additional workers to address understaffing

Union representatives highlight recent incidents of arbitrary retrenchment, citing cases of three mess workers and a sanitation worker who were reportedly dismissed without cause. They also point to a significant reduction in the workforce compared to previous years, leading to increased workload on remaining staff.

Suryaprakash from the AICCTU told The Mooknayak that the organisation has called upon JNU Vice Chancellor Dr. Dhulipudi Pandit to intervene in the matter, particularly regarding what they term an "unholy nexus" between the university administration and contracting companies that allegedly denies workers their legal rights.

The strike has begun to impact campus cleanliness, putting additional pressure on the administration to address the workers' demands. Despite threats of retrenchment, the workers remain firm in their resolve to continue the boycott until their demands are met.

Workers' representatives emphasize that their demands align with existing labor laws and basic worker rights. The lack of proper safety equipment and formal documentation of wages has been a long-standing issue that the current protest aims to address.