“We will not go to work until the company makes a written announcement about the salary increase on the notice board.” This is not just a statement, but a compulsion of hundreds of labor families. Factory workers shared their pain with NDTV over workers’ agitation and violence in Noida over salaries. Women workers said- The government has increased the minimum wage to ₹ 16,890, but the ground reality is that many companies are still paying the old salary.
The workers say that neither are they getting increased salary nor any written notice is being given. Unless the company clearly writes on the notice board that the next salary will be increased, they will not return to work.
Workers say that in some places, they are hearing talks about salary increase, but the companies are not confirming it in writing.
The government is doing its work, but the people sitting below, contractors and factory management are not giving the workers their full rights. Overtime hours are deducted. Half day is deducted for being late by five minutes, but no money is given for four-five hours of overtime.
These workers, living in small rooms in a foreign city, are paying ₹ 4,000 to ₹ 5,000 as rent. It has become impossible to run a household without salary. Pressure from the landlord for not paying the rent on time, water problems, daily hassles and on top of that, work stoppage. Women tell that their husbands have been going to the factory for three-three days, but the gate is not being opened. The phones have been switched off. The factory says work at the old salary or don’t come. After the protest and strike, the police and administration also sent the workers back.
The closure of work is directly impacting the children. Many labor families are not able to pay the school fees of their children. Children have been sent back from school due to non-payment of fees. Someone’s child is in fourth class, someone had to be sent to primary school because the burden of fees is no longer being borne.
Workers say that the amount of leave is certain to be cut. There is no income sitting at home, but electricity bill, water rent, school fees and food – everything is going on. The compulsion is such that if a solution is not found soon, many people are talking about returning to the village.
The workers have only one request from the government – the minimum wage that has been fixed should be implemented on the ground. Companies should clearly inform by writing on the notice board when and how much salary will be received. The workers do not want any donation, they just want full price for their hard work.
Satyam Baghel reports for NDTV India.
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