Mangalore, June 4: A protest was staged by the beedi workers in front of the office of the Labour Commissioner here on June 4, Wednesday demanding dearness allowance. The protest was organised by South Kanara Beedi Workers Federation affiliated to CITU.
They complained that the owners have not yet provided the DA which was hiked in January this year. It was said that the workers are facing injustice as the Labour Department has not evinced any interest in initiating action against beedi firms which fail to offer minimum wages.
BM Bhat, CITU District President who spoke on the occasion, said the beedi workers should have received a DA of Rs 21.15 per 1000 beedies rolled with effect from January 2014 which will take the total wages per 1000 beedies to Rs 150.88. But there is no sight of increased DA till date, he said.
Labour union leader Vasantha Achari and others took part in the protest.
