Sugar factory workers, criticizing the factory owners and management boards for not raising wages according to regulations, have planned to hold a convention in Bengaluru and organise a ‘Vidhana Soudha Chalo’ protest on August 11, coinciding with the Legislature Session.
Speaking at a press conference held at Pathrakarthara Bhavan in Mysuru yesterday, B. Nagaraju, President of the Karnataka Sugar Workers’ Federation, said that around 80,000 workers are employed across 79 sugar factories in the state.
“From 1960 to 1989, sugar factory workers received wages as per the Central Wage Board for Sugar Industry recommendations. From 1990 onwards, wages were fixed through the Tripartite Sugar Wage Committee. However, under the 7th Pay Agreement, factory owners are still not paying fair wages. To highlight this issue, workers will gather in Bengaluru after the Session begins and march to Vidhana Soudha,” Nagaraju explained.
According to the news report by Star of Mysore, he issued a warning, stating that most factories are scheduled to begin sugarcane crushing on October 25. “If the 8th Pay Commission agreement is not enforced, operations at all sugar factories will cease starting in September, and we will begin an indefinite strike,” he cautioned.
Also present at the press meet were Federation General Secretary D.N. Krishnegowda and leaders M.E. Partha, H.S. Girish, Siddegowda, Puttamadegowda, Ramakrishna, Javaregowda, Kubera, and Ramesh.
