The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : IT, call centre drivers to go on strike on December 7

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Friday, Dec 05, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

IT, call centre drivers to go on strike on December 7

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Call centres and information technology industries cannot do without the vehicles that carry their employees to and from the workplace at all times of the day. But the working conditions and salaries of the drivers are far from satisfactory, according to the Karnataka State Vehicle Drivers’ Central Committee.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Nanjundaswamy, State President of the committee, said the drivers would launch an indefinite strike from midnight of December 7 if their demands were not met. Their demands include fixing of minimum wages and work hours for the drivers. He warned that they would block traffic at Hosur Road, Devanahalli, Tukmur Road and Hoskote.

Mr. Nanjundaswamy said that the drivers, who form the backbone of these high-profile industries, are paid low wages and are denied basic facilities like toilets and rest rooms. “The drivers are not directly employed by these industries, but through travel agencies. Therefore, they are not eligible for the facilities that even cleaners and helpers get in these industries,” he said. The drivers are paid between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,500 a month, he added. The committee is demanding wages between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 10,000 a month. “They work round the clock without any fixed hours of work,” he said.

According to Mr. Nanjundaswamy, there are about 80,000 vehicles used by IT, BT firms and call centres in Bangalore. They should be brought under the purview of the labour law, he added.

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