Beedie workers urge government to increase minimum wages

Beedie workers urge government to increase minimum wages

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 29, 2012 : Beedie workers held a demonstration under the leadership of organizations such as District Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and CITU at PVS Circle on Monday urging Yogish Bhat, deputy speaker of the state legislative assembly, to request the state government to publish the increase in minimum wages of beedie workers to Rs. 116.20 in the state gazette at the earliest possible.

 

 

 

 

 

The protestors, who had arrived at PVS Circle in a procession, initially planned to gherao Mr. Bhat’s house.

CITU leader Sunil Kumar Bajal said on the occasion that beedie workers launched an indefinite strike 4 days back demanding an increase in minimum wages. He said that, although the CM announced hike in minimum wages for beedie workers in the state budget, the hike has not been published in the state gazette. Beedie company owners have still not increased pay because of this. He urged the state government to publish the notification immediately and warned that the protestors will lay siege to houses of MPs and MLAs if the government fails to do so.

Admitting that the state government has delayed in publishing the notification in the gazette, Mr. Bhat said that he has spoke to the CM about it and the government will take the required steps at the earliest possible.

Dayanand Shetty, district secretary of the DYFI, said in his address that elected representatives have refused to act on several burning issues such as the mud dumping issue, lack of a proper building for Lady Goschen Hospital, and the beedie workers’ issue.