Pune: Thousands of contract workers employed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are facing severe financial difficulties due to delays in tender renewals and contract extensions. Many workers have been forced to work without pay for months due to bureaucratic inefficiencies in the contract renewal process.
As per regulations, new tenders should be initiated before the expiry of existing contracts. However, several municipal departments and regional offices fail to start the process on time, leading to months-long delays in salary payments.
The Security and Sanitation departments issue the largest tenders for contract workers in Pune. However, reports indicate that these tenders are often influenced by political pressure, with leaders allegedly ensuring contracts are awarded to their preferred contractors.
Additionally, some politicians are accused of forcing officials to hire security guards from their personal networks, further complicating the tendering process. The situation is similar for clerical and administrative contract employees, where external influence affects hiring decisions.
To streamline contract management and ensure timely salary payments, the PMC launched a dedicated online portal two years ago. This portal was designed to track tenders, contract expiry dates, and worker payments. However, with the frequent transfers of municipal commissioners and senior officials, the portal has been neglected, resulting in renewed chaos in contract management.
Security Department’s Contract Expires, Salaries Delayed
The Security Department’s contract expired on December 31, 2024, but no approval has been granted for its extension, nor has a new tender been issued. As a result, 1,565 security guards have not received their January salaries, despite regulations requiring payment by the 10th of every month.
Affected Departments and Number of Unpaid Workers
Aundh-Baner Ward Office – 400 workers
Kasba-Vishrambaug – 456 workers
Shivajinagar-Ghole Road – 124 workers
Bibwewadi – 222 workers
Security Department – 1,565 workers
Annual Expenditure on Contract Workers
Security Department contract expiry – December 31, 2024
Annual expenditure on contract workers – ₹125 crore
Total departments employing contract workers – 28
Total contract workers – 8,844
Sanitation workers – 4,285
Other contract workers – 4,559
Call for Reform in Contract Renewal Process
According to Nitin Kenjale, Labor Consultant at PMC, contract renewals should begin at least three months before expiry to prevent disruptions in salary payments. PMC officials have been instructed to communicate directly with department heads to ensure timely contract extensions.
