Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 13: Karnataka chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, succeeded in convincing workers of garment factories, who had planned to go on strike demanding payment of minimum wages, to shelve their plan albeit temporarily. To discuss the issue of considering their demands favourably, he has called for a meeting of garments factory owners and workers on June 18.

"We wish that the factories continue to survive. At the same time, factory workers should not become jobless. We have a free mind about taking a decision on this issue. I request the workers of the factories not to resort to any kind of agitation. This issue should have been settled in the past by holding discussions between the factory owners and workers. At the proposed meeting, we will hold discussions on all issues bothering the concerned, and find a lasting solution," he promised.

He expressed his predicament at not being able to exert too much of a pressure on factory owners in which case there is a chance of workers getting driven to streets. "At the same time, I agree that just demands of workers should also be considered favourably. We will take concrete steps to meet genuine demands of workers including minimum wages of Rs 11587 per month as notified in the past," he stated.

On the basis of the assurance given by the chief minister, the workers have temporarily withdrawn the agitation they had planned to hold at Mandya on June 14.