Unpaid wages bug cripples DMC again

DMC manages to pacify miffed sanitation workers with another assurance

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 12

Another case of unpaid salaries struck the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), once again, crippling the sanitation branch for two consecutive days. The DMC was however able to broker a deal with the sanitation workers, on December 12, assuring to clear unpaid salaries and timely crediting of pending Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions. Following the assurance, the workers decided to resume work from December 13. 

The DMC has an estimated 200 workers under its payroll in the sanitation branch. On December 4, the workers submitted a representation to the Chairperson warning of ceasing work, if their salaries withheld for the past 4 months (August, September, October and November) were not cleared by December 10. In response, the DMC released but a month’s only on December 9. 

Residents of the Dimapur municipal area woke up to unattended garbage on December 11 as the sanitation workers began their agitation as scheduled. Jolted by the strike, the DMC hurriedly released another month’s (September) salary the same day. But it did not do much to pacify the miffed workers, who insisted on clearing the backlog for October and November as well. 

The next day, December 12, the unattended garbage doubled as the workers continued with their strike. The DMC Chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi and Chief Executive Officer Thungchanbemo Tungoe alongwith other councillors huddled at the old DMC office trying to broker a deal with the agitating workers. 

The negotiations continued till late into the afternoon when finally the workers agreed to resume work from December 13, but on the condition that the pending two month’s salary is cleared by December 16. The DMC also reportedly assured to streamline crediting of EPF contributions by March 2026. 

Delaying salaries for months on end has become a tradition in the DMC with the employees resorting to cease work agitations at frequent intervals. The previous cease work agitation over unpaid wages happened in August during which the entire ministerial and sanitation workers ceased work for two days. 

Earlier sometime in February-March, this year, salaries, pending since October 2024, were disbursed only after the employees warned of a cease work agitation.  

The DMC has under its payroll over 430 employees at present against an estimated total of 260 sanctioned posts.

Resolve sanitation workers’ unpaid salaries, urges DNSU

Dimapur, December 12 (MExN): The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has expressed concern over the ongoing protest by sanitation workers of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), who have not received their salaries for the past three months.

In a statement, the DNSU said the situation was not new and described it as “deeply unfortunate that the very workers who keep our city clean and functional are repeatedly subjected to this hardship.” The union noted that the current protest has left waste uncollected across Dimapur, creating what it described as an unhygienic and unpleasant environment.

DNSU stated that sanitation workers form the backbone of DMC and said their welfare must be prioritised under all circumstances. “We earnestly urge the DMC authorities to address the salary payment issue at the earliest and ensure a long-term solution so that such situations do not recur,” it said.

The union also pointed out that many councillors had emphasised a clean and hygienic Dimapur in their election campaigns and manifestos, adding that fulfilling the basic rights of sanitation workers was a fundamental step toward achieving that commitment.

DNSU said it stands in solidarity with the sanitation workers and called upon the authorities concerned to take immediate and responsible action.