Delhi government imposes ESMA ahead of DTC strike

However, the DTC Workers Unity Centre, which is at the forefront of the agitation, asserted they are going ahead with the strike. The unions have been demanding that the DTC withdraw a circular reducing the wages of contractual workers.

Other demands include “same pay for same work” for all contractual workers, expansion of DTC bus fleet and stopping privatisation of public transport through rampant outsourcing of work, the forum said in a statement.

“Over 50 per cent of DTC employees are contract workers. The government is neither regularising contract workers nor are they following the Supreme Court judgments or the Contract Labour Central Rules, 1971, which have clearly established the principle of ‘same pay for same work’,” said Rajesh, General Secretary of DTC Workers Unity Centre.

Meanwhile, the government notification on ESMA, issued under L-G Anil Baijal’s name, said the “unauthorised strike” since October 22 has caused inconvenience and hardship to the general public. However, the agitating forum alleged that the government was trying to mislead people, as they have not been striking work.