Bengaluru minister questions sanitation worker attendance; union seeks apology

Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said about 30% of Bengaluru’s pourakarmikas were absent during an early-morning inspection on Saturday, as he questioned workers seeking regularisation.

In a video circulated online, Byre Gowda said workers needed to report regularly and carry out their duties before seeking permanent employment. He said absenteeism was affecting the city’s cleanliness and drawing criticism towards the government and civic authorities.

Bengaluru has roughly 16,000 pourakarmikas, according to the figures cited in the discussion. About 12,800 have been regularised, while others are yet to be absorbed into government service. Auto drivers and helpers continue to work on private contracts.

The All-India Central Council of Trade Unions sought an apology from the minister, saying his remarks publicly humiliated workers. The union said contract work, outsourcing, delayed wages, inadequate safety equipment and limited social security were among the issues affecting sanitation workers.

The union also called for weekly offs and an end to the contract and outsourcing system.