Long pending DA of poor beedi workers neglected

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Mar 24, 2017:  The Udupi district beedi workers staged a protest in front of the office of Bharath Beedi Works Udupi, demanding immediate reimbursement of the pending amount of dearness allowances.

Speaking on the occasion, CITU leader Vittal Poojary said that the Beedi company owners have withheld the dearness allowances for two years. "Although the court has ordered immediate payment of the pending dearness allowances, the Company has not paid. The beedi labourers should be immediately paid the pending amount of dearness allowances," he demanded.

The agitators shouted slogans against the government and the Company. They alleged that the government has failed to instruct the Companies to follow the court verdict. The beedi workers received Rs 12.75 dearness allowance for 1,000 beedis from April 1, 2015. A total of Rs 3,792 dearness allowances per year should be ensured to the Beedi workers, they demanded.

Poojary added that the beedi companies were undergoing loss and the then minister Parameshwar Naik had instructed that the dearness allowances need not be paid for the workers. "The beedi workers’ association had approached the court against the instructions issued by the minister. The court, upholding the petition of the beedi workers, ordered the beedi companies to pay the dearness allowances immediately. However the Company owners have not followed the court order," he said.

A large procession was taken out from Clock Tower to Bharath Beedi works on the occasion.