BEST's wet-lease staff vote on strike across depots in Mumbai for equal pay

Wet-lease employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) have taken to the ballot to decide whether go on strike in support of their demand for “Equal Work, Equal Pay.”

“Since the work performed by permanent and temporary workers in the transport department of the undertaking is similar to that of the wet-lease employees, why should they not receive the same pay and benefits? Workers employed by wet-lease operators — including the joint venture of Shree Maruti Travels and Arham Transportation Pvt. Ltd. (SMTATPL Associates of the Daga Group), Mateshwari Urban Transport Solutions Pvt. Ltd and BVG India Ltd — are doing the same kind of work. However, they are not being paid the same wages or provided the service conditions as permanent and regular workers of the BEST undertaking, in violation of the principle of ‘Equal Work, Equal Pay.’ This is a breach of the law by both the private contractors and the BEST undertaking,” said Shashank Sharad Rao of the Sangharsh Labour Employees’ Union.