Clad in fluorescent vests and carrying placards, more than 300 sanitation workers from Rawalpindi's municipal bodies marched through the city on Thursday, turning their frustration over an unpaid Eid bonus into a public demonstration that also revived long-standing demands for job security. Led by Raja Haroon, president of the Municipal Labour Union, the protesters walked from Murree Road to the Rawalpindi Press Club, where they staged a sit-in, chanting slogans against the administration and displaying banners with their demands. Main Developments The core grievance centers on a Rs10,000 honorarium that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had announced for each sanitary worker ahead of Eidul Azha. Workers say they toiled round the clock during the three-day holiday to keep the city clean, yet hundreds are still waiting for the promised payment. Read also: Why a School Bombing in Bajaur Signals a Disturbing Trend Alongside the unpaid bonus, the protesters demanded the regularisation of contract and daily-wage employees. Many workers said they continue on temporary terms despite soaring inflation, making it harder to cover basic expenses like food and rent. Union leaders Haroon and secretary Shahid Raza reminded officials that a sit-in held in May was called off after the administration assured them the regularisation issue would be resolved. They noted that under a 2021 policy, the corporation's chief officer now holds the power to regularise contract staff, but repeated reminders have yielded no action. Warning of escalation, the union said if regularisation is not carried out immediately, workers will launch an indefinite protest and boycott official duties. Background The protest comes against the backdrop of the Clean Punjab programme, a provincial initiative aimed at improving sanitation and waste management. The Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation employ the workers, many of whom have been on daily wages or short-term contracts for years. In May, a similar protest was suspended after officials pledged to address the regularisation matter, but the union says those promises were never fulfilled. The 2021 policy delegation of powers was meant to streamline the process, yet implementation has stalled. Adding to the context, the Rawalpindi commissioner on the same day reviewed sanitation arrangements under the Suthra Punjab Programme, signaling that the government is focusing on service quality even as workers demand their due. Why It Matters The standoff highlights a deeper tension between the Punjab government's modernisation drive and the precarious conditions of the workers who deliver those services. Sanitation staff are essential to public health, yet many lack stable employment and financial security, which can undermine morale and service quality. For the workers, the unpaid honorarium is not just a one-time loss; it compounds the pressure of rising living costs. For the administration, failing to resolve the issue risks disrupting waste collection in a city that is already grappling with jurisdictional overlaps between agencies like the CDA, cantonment boards, and the Water and Sanitation Agency. The commissioner's directive for better coordination and unified standards underscores the gap between official ambitions and on-the-ground realities. What's Next The union has threatened an indefinite protest if regularisation is not addressed immediately, which could halt sanitation work in Rawalpindi. The administration has not yet issued a formal response to Thursday's demonstration. Meanwhile, the commissioner has ordered all sanitation agencies to work in close coordination, keep machinery operational, and extend uniform cleanliness standards to both urban and rural areas. A separate review covered the proposed transfer of about 1,700 kanals of land at Mandrah, Chakwal, for a waste disposal site, and progress on transfer stations. Whether the government will move on the honorarium and regularisation before the union's next move remains an open question.