Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SB)

Mangalore, Jul 14: Kasargod district committee of Centre for Indian Trade Union and All India Trade Union Congress staged a protest demanding various facilities for the bidi workers in front of the Bharath Bidi main office in the city on Monday July 13.

The protestors demanded arrears of wages and other facilities to be sanctioned to the workers with immediate effect. According to agreement entered into by owners of bidi companies, trade unions and the government, Rs 4,500 arrears of additional dearness allowance needs to be given to the workers who have served for 10 years between 1997 to 2006 and those who have worked for less number of years may be paid dearness allowance, accordingly, they demanded. The protestors alleged that though other companies have fulfilled their promise, Bharath Bidi management by not sanctioning the said amount to the workers from Kerala has not fulfilled the promise.   

The workers further demanded sanctioning of additional dearness allowance increased up to Rs 8.30 from April 2009 and also bonus and leave encashment for 2008-09 needs to be sanctioned ten days prior to Onam. Maternity leave allowance for female workers needs to be sanctioned in full immediately, they added.