08 September,2026 06:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
In a major move aimed at resolving long-pending demands of employees and workers of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday recommended key proposals concerning wage revision, notional pay fixation for casual workers and equal pay for wet-lease employees be referred to a study committee constituted by the Maharashtra government.
As per the official statement from BEST, the study committee, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (UD-1) of the Urban Development Department, was constituted by the Maharashtra government under the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to examine and resolve various pending demands of BEST workers.
Following directions from the committee and meetings between the BEST administration and labour unions, a comprehensive proposal was submitted to the BMC for recommendation to the government-appointed committee. The proposal was taken up during the BMC meeting held on Tuesday.
The recommendation is expected to directly benefit more than 38,200 BEST employees and workers, with three major proposals forming part of the package.
During the meeting, the first proposal concerns implementation of a revised wage agreement for BEST employees for the period 2016-2025, based on pay scales aligned with those applicable to Maharashtra government and BMC employees under the 7th Pay Commission.
Furthermore, the proposal seeks implementation of the revised wage agreement with effect from 2016. According to the proposal, around 27,000 employees are expected to benefit.
However, implementation of the revised agreement would place a financial burden of approximately Rs 6,000 crore on the undertaking towards outstanding dues.
The second proposal seeks notional fixation of pay for casual workers from the date of their joining service.
Around 2,200 workers are expected to benefit from the proposal, which would entail an estimated financial burden of around Rs 300 crore on BEST.
The third and potentially significant proposal relates to the implementation of the principle of 'Equal Pay for Equal Work' for wet-lease or contract workers engaged with BEST, as per the BEST officials.
Based on the opinion of the Maharashtra government's Law and Judiciary Department and provisions under Rules 21 and 25 of the Maharashtra Contract Labour Rules, 1971, the BEST Committee has recommended that wet-lease contract workers be paid wages equivalent to those of permanent employees.
Furthermore, the move is expected to benefit approximately 9,000 contract workers and would result in an additional annual financial burden of around Rs 475 crore on the BEST Undertaking.
The proposals have now been recommended for referral to the study committee constituted by the Maharashtra government. The matter will be processed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888.
The recommendation marks a significant step towards addressing long-standing wage and service-related issues among BEST workers, although the final decision on the proposals will rest with the government-appointed study committee and the subsequent approval process.
