Not many workers in the shops on S.M. Street in Kozhikode recognise themselves as ‘workers’, neither are they aware of their rights.
A survey conducted by the Asanghatita Meghala Thozhilali Union (AMTU) on the street as part of its May Day campaign that started on March 8 revealed that most of the workers do not get any of the statutory benefits they deserve.
“Most of the workers who responded to our questionnaire answered that they did not have any of the facilities mentioned in it. They were not even aware that they had such rights until they read our questionnaire,” said P. Viji, president of the union, noted for her fight to establish the right to sit for women employees in textile shops.
The AMTU’s questionnaire distributed among the workers on S.M. Street during the last two months contained questions about their recognition as workers by their employer, whether they had the Provident Fund and ESI facilities, whether they were allowed to sit during working hours, whether they were members of any trade union and if the said union was a feeder organisation of the political party which also hosted an organisation of their employers.
“They never got a weekly off with wages or any benefits when they were dismissed. Neither did they have PF or ESI facilities,” Ms. Viji said.
She said that the situation was not limited to shops and that employees from corporate establishments had approached the union with complaints regarding their recognition as workers.
The AMTU plans to intensify the campaign for the rights of the employees on May Day. “We plan to visit the major shops in the city for an inspection. The reports will be submitted to the State Labour Commissioner,” she added.
The AMTU also plans to honour the aged laundry workers at Muthalakkulam on May Day.