Waste collectors help move the more than 8,000 metric tons of refuse generated daily by Mumbai's residents and businesses. They have no choice about where, when and how they work. They ride on the trucks that haul garbage to dump sites, and are paid from 25 to 35 rupees (US$.05 to .07) per trip. They can complete two or three trips per day, working a minimum of 10 to 12 hours daily. There are no holidays or rest periods.

Socially untouchable, scavengers are isolated from their employers as well. They are paid by the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) yet they are not public employees. The BMC hires them as independent agents or through subcontracting agents. Procuring and controlling contract waste collectors is a corrupt and lucrative business that is monopolized by BMC employees. Waste collectors are paid in cash, but no records are maintained. No deductions are taken from their pay to provide benefits, nor for taxes. They receive no identity card and attendance cards.

Waste collectors are not insured and no protective measures are taken on their behalf. In most cases, when they have an accident they lose their salary during their forced absence and receive no compensation for the loss of earning capacity. They get no food, clean drinking water, or washing facilities from their employer, so they eat their food while riding on the garbage trucks.