Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (KM/SM)

Mangalore, Jul 27: Bidi workers' welfare forum of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts staged a protest before the office of deputy labour commissioner and submitted a request, here on Friday July 27.

Their demands include the payment of DA of Rs 4,500 which was due,  the payment should be made by the persons directly to bidi companies not by any  contractor and legal action should be taken immediately against the companies that violate the rule as per the agreement was made, stated the agitators.

The agreement made on January 31, 2006 in the presence of joint labour commissioner and state reconciliation officer was that Rs 4500 had to be paid by or before June 30, 2007, that was not cleared since 1997. But that has not been cleared till today, the agitators said.

The agitators detailed that lot of injustice was done at the time of payment and out of Rs 4,500 only Rs 1000 was paid.

If the bidi companies do not give their approval to the due of Rs 4,500 at a stretch, than staging a protest before such companies would be inevitable, the press note by the office-bearers of the forum warned.