Bidi workers protest against reduced workload

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 7, 2012 : The South Kanara Bidi Workers’ Federation, under the banner of AITUC, organized a protest in front of the Ganesh Bidi Godown in Lalbagh on Nov 6, Tuesday against the workload reduction of the past two months.

 

 

Bidi workers urged authorities not to reduce their workload. They also submitted a memorandum to Nagesh Shetty, manager of SK Home Industry, who assured them that he will do his best to solve their problem.

P. Sanjeeva, president of the federation, said that workload has been reduced during the last two months, making it very difficult for workers to earn their living. He said that the reason for reduction in workload is that companies purchase bidis from other sources at cheaper rates to avoid having to pay provident funds, bonuses, and others to workers.

Nagesh Shetty said that the workload has been decreased by 15%, but the demand for bidi has gone down and there is a large stock in the godown, resulting in less work for bidi rollers. According to the minimum wages act, each worker has to be given a minimum workload of 800 bidis per day, and if the management cannot provide work, it must provide wages for the bidi workers.

Among those protesting were Treasurer M. Karunakar, M. Shivappa Kotian, Sulochana, and Vasanthi R. Shetty.