Intuc Stages Protest Against CMS for Terminating 6 Women Employees
Mangaluru: The INTUC staged a protest against the CMS company for terminating 6 women employees from Mangaluru One and not paying the minimum wages to its employees in front of Karnataka One office, MCC Premises here on July 20.
The protesters shouted slogans against the CMS for harassing the employees by not paying the minimum wages and also terminating 6 women employees for raising their voice against the management for not paying the minimum wage.
Addressing the protesters Legal Advisor of INTUC Dinakar Shetty said, “More than 2500 people are working in Karnataka One and 90% of the employees are women. The state government has fixed the minimum wage of Rs 13,500 to the employees but CMS is paying only Rs 5000 to Rs 6000. When the employees questioned the management on the minimum wages, they were terminated. We demand the CMS company to reinstate all the 6 women employees and revise their wages”.
MLC Ivan speaking on the occasion said, “The state government has already fixed the wages for the employees and it should be followed by the employers. Today the employees would not have staged the protest if they would have been paid the minimum wages. Those who have raised their voice against the injustice, have been terminated and we strongly condemn it. The Andhra based CMS company is trying to control the employees of Mangalore One by terminating them when they raise their voice against the injustice. “
Ivan further said, “In most of the Labour departments everything runs under commission basis. We need to curb the middleman system and stop the injustice against employees. Employers depend on the middlemen to hire employees and the employees get salary through the middlemen. The Labour Department should investigate such issues and act on taking preventive measures. The State government should interfere and find a solution to this problem. Those who have been terminated should be reinstated immediately and minimum wages should be given to them”.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development U T Khader met the protesters and visited the Mangaluru One office at the MCC Premises. Speaking with the protesters U T Khader said, “I will look into to the matter and also discuss this issue with the Labour minister. I will speak to the concerned authorities of CMS company to reinstate the 6 women who have been terminated. I will also instruct the Deputy Commissioner to look into this matter and submit the report.”
INTUC president Rakesh Malli said, “Our demand is that all the 6 women who have been terminated for raising their voice against the nonpayment of minimum wages should be reinstated. We also demand the payment of minimum wages. 2500 people are working in Karnataka One out of which 2100 are women. From the past many years, they are working in Mangaluru One without any increment. When they demanded minimum wages to be paid, they were terminated. Today Minister U T Khader, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Mayor Bhaskar have met us and assured to do justice with the employees of Mangalore One. If Mangalore One employees do not get justice, we will intensify our protest throughout the state”, warned Malli.
INTUC leaders Manohar Shetty, Sashiraj Ambat, Umesh Kotian, Umesh Devadiga and others were also present.