₹25,000 Salary for Cleaning 44th-Floor Balconies: A video of a man from Jharkhand cleaning the window of a high-rise building in Telangana has gone viral on the internet. The video features the worker earning ₹25,000 per month, and his responses when questioned about working at a hazardous height have led people to reflect on the dangers experienced by the people who make our cities function.
The video, which was said to have been shot in Nanakramguda, Telangana, shows two workers cleaning a balcony at the 44th floor of a multi-storey building. The clip shows some of the hardships faced by a job that many often overlook.
₹25,000 Salary for Cleaning 44th-Floor Balconies
As per reports, the video was posted on Instagram by one Nirbhay Sharma who exchanged words with the labourers as they were cleaning the wall outside the building.
One of the workers disclosed that he hails from Jharkhand and receives a salary of ₹25,000 per month for his work.
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He also claimed he was entitled to further benefits such as food allowance, cooking gas and transport allowance. These benefits constitute the working conditions in the said viral exchange.
Though the salary figure grabbed viewers’ attention, the circumstances under which the man earns his money became a question of equal concern.
Workers tasked with cleaning the outside of a skyscraper are required to work from significant heights, sometimes while using cleaning equipment and performing uncomfortable working positions.
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‘ I No Longer Fear ‘
The most powerful moment in the video was when the man was asked if he was scared working so high off the ground.
He allegedly said, “Aadat ho gaya hai, 5-6 saal se kar rahe hai toh ab darr nahi lagta” and noted that he got used to it after working in the same profession for five or six years.
This reaction was relatable for viewers as it showed how employees could grow comfortable with such high-risk work after years of doing it.
Nonetheless, experiencing a risk will not make it go away. Falls from height can result in both serious injury and death.
What Do Indian Workplace Safety Guidelines Say?
Workers working at height have a special status under India’s overall safety system.
In Building and Other Construction Workers, the Ministry of Labour and Employment laid down rules for construction-site safety and worker amenities. The government has safety instructions that recommend the proper protective clothing and safety measures in case of falling that could result in extensive damage.
The “Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020” contains details about the safety and health requirements at work place. The exact legal provisions relevant for an exterior-cleaning work depend on the work, establishment and rules.
