Mangalore: Bidi Workers Take to Streets Demanding More Work

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Nov 6: Bidi workers associated with South Kanara Bidi Worker’s Federation under the aegis of AITUC staged a protest in front of Ganesh Bidi Godown, Lalbagh here on Tuesday November 6.

The protest was organized against the cut down on workload over the past two months. The workers urged authorities not to cut down their work and instead give them more work.

As part of the protest, a memorandum with demands of Bidi workers was submitted to Nagesh Shetty, manager of South Kanara Home Industry (godown). In return, the manager assured to do his best in the interest of the workers.

Speaking on the occasion, P Sanjeeva, president of the federation said that for the past two months, the work has been cut down due to which the workers are finding it difficult to earn their bread.

"One of the main reasons for the reduction in work is that the company buys bidis from other sources at cheaper rates as they need not pay benefits like provident fund, bonus and others, unlike for permanent workers. This should not continue," he said, urging the management to resolve the matter soon.

Speaking to Daijiworld, manager Nagesh Shetty said that the management is trying to do its best in the interest of workers. He said the work has been decreased only by 15 percent as the management is helpless.

"The demand for bidi is very less these days and as a result we have a huge stock in the godown. This has resulted in less amount of work," he added.

"As per the minimum wages act, each worker has to be given a minimum of 800 bidis a day, failing which the management should provide wages to them," said VS Berinja, secretary of South Kanara Bidi Workers Federation.

M Karunakar, federation treasurer, M Shivappa Kotian, Vasanthi R Shetty, Sulochana among others were part of the protest.