Mangaluru : July 1, 2015: Beedi workers held a protest rally from PVS circle to Assistant Labour Commissioner’s office and conducted a protest meeting under the leadership of SK beedi workers’ federation and AITUC June 30. They urged the government to withdraw the gazette notification exempting beedi companies from paying dearness allowance to its workers and to order them to pay revised DA of Rs 12.75.
SK Beedi Workers Federation president P Sanjeeva said that beedi industry significantly contributes to the revenue of the State. The State government had announced DA of Rs 12.75 per thousand beedis, this year. Despite government notifications, beedi company owners submitted a plea to the government to exempt them from giving dearness allowance to beedi workers, on the claim that beedi industry is under loss. He alleged that the State government, ignoring facts regarding beedi workers, exempted beedi companies from paying DA to workers this year, by issuing a special gazette notification on April 9, which is unjust on the part of the government. CPI District Secretary V Kukyan said as many as six lakh homemakers depend upon beedi industry wages.
The industry is the lowest paying among all other still following age old rates. The government should order beedi companies to minimally provide DA to workers at least, to compensate beedi workers. Terming the step of the government as unjust, he said the move of the government has come as a shocker as the workers have are already victims of price hike.
They urged the govt to withdraw the notification exempting companies from paying DA to the workers and should order companies to provide latest dearness allowance, which is Rs 12.75. A memorandum was submitted in this regard to Chief Minister and to Labour Commissioner, Government of Karnataka, through Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mangaluru. AITUC district joint secretary B Shekhar and Panemangaluru Firka beedi and general workers Union Secretary Suresh Kumar were present.
Comments on this Article | |
Sunil, Bantwal | Wed, July-1-2015, 12:12 |
Please give justice to the workers .Don’t burden the workers as their standard of living is low. Government has to take steps to ensure the welfare of these workers n not burden them. |