Members of the Udupi District Beedi Workers Federation and South Kanara Beedi Workers Federation staged a dharna in front of the Ganesh Beedi Company at Santhekatte here on Monday demanding that minimum wages be implemented for beedi workers.
Addressing the protestors, Balakrishna Shetty, labour leader, said that a committee formed by the State government had decided that beedi workers should be given a minimum wage of ₹ 210 for every 1,000 beedis rolled.
As per the recommendation of this committee, the State government had fixed minimum wages at ₹ 210.
The representatives of both the owners of beedi companies and beedi workers had participated in this committee’s proceedings.
But the owners of the beedi companies had not implemented this decision of the government. By doing so, they had done injustice to the beedi workers.
So far, three phases of agitations against the violation of the decision by the beedi companies had been carried out.
This was the fourth phase of the agitation being launched by the beedi workers in front of the depots of various beedi companies, he said.
Besides not paying minimum wages, the companies had not paid Dearness Allowance of ₹ 12.75 per 1,000 beedis since April 1, 2015. This had resulted in the beedi workers losing a lot of money.
The dissatisfaction among beedi workers was rising on these issues with every passing day.
Hence, both the federations wanted the beedi companies to implement minimum wages for beedi workers from April 1, 2018. They should pay the pending Dearness Allowance to the workers from April 1, 2015. The beedi workers should have work only for six days in a week. If this was not possible, they should be paid as per provisions in Labour Laws.
If these demands were not met, the federations would not hesitate to intensify their agitation, Mr. Shetty said.
Shantha Nayak, presdient of Udupi Taluk Beedi Labour Union, Shashikala, secretary, Mahabala Voderhobli, president of District Beedi Workers Federation, Umesh Kundar, secretary, K. Lakshman, treasurer, K.V. Bhat, president of district unit of South Kanara Beedi Workers Federation, were present.
