India: Beedi Workers Take out Rally

Source from:  The Hindu 02/02/2015

Members of Beedi, Cigar and Chewing Tobacco Workers Sammelan affiliated to All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) took out a rally on Friday demanding immediate steps for arriving at new wage structure.

Led by N. Periyasamy, AITUC president, the rally participants called upon the State Government and the Labour Department to introduce the new system of payment at the earliest by engaging representatives of the workers' associations for talks.

The workers demanded payment of Rs. 300 for rolling of 1,000 beedis alongwith specified incentives, six days a week employment, provision of inputs for rolling minimum of 1,500 beedis a day, enhancement of provident fund pension to Rs. 3,000 per month, proper utilisation of welfare fund, and simplification of procedures for educational assistance for children of workers.

National Secretary of AITUC Vahida Nizam, and S. Kasi Viswanathan, General Secretary, All India Beedi, Cigar and Chewing Tobacco Sammelan, spoke. Enditem