Bhadrak: About 150 workers engaged on contractual basis locked two gats of Bhadrak municipality office Thursday, alleging that the civic body authorities have not deposited money in their EPF and ESI accounts for many years.
Sanitation workers, drivers, electricians, peons and security guards launched an indefinite strike Thursday.
They were engaged in various works through an outsourcing agency.
They pointed out that the agency has been deducting some money from their monthly salaries towards EPF and ESI, but the money has not been deposited in their accounts.
The workers alleged a scam of Rs 6 crore was committed by the agency. The staff had earlier staged an agitation in October and locked the office. The authorities had assured them of sorting out the problem soon, but no step was taken.
Executive officer of the municipality Hitanshu Samal came out for talks with the agitating staff, but the latter were firm on their stand for filing an FIR against the outsourcing agency. The talks remained inconclusive.
The workers said their strike will go on till their demand is fulfilled.
PNN
