Birgunj, June 28 -- Sanitation workers employed by a private contractor assigned by Birgunj Metropolitan City launched a strike on Sunday, demanding higher wages, improved benefits and stronger labour rights.

As part of the protest, workers dumped piles of rubbish at Ghantaghar Chowk, the Meena Bazaar area and outside the metropolitan office's main entrance, disrupting waste management in the city.

With regular sanitation services at risk of being severely affected, the metropolitan office said it had begun efforts to resolve the dispute.

Acting Mayor Imtiyaj Aalam said the city was closely monitoring the situation and had instructed contractor Shiva Gupta, whose company is responsible for waste collection, to hold immediate talks with...