From our comrades of the SAMP health and safety local workers organization in the Arera Colony, Bhopal, India, Madhya Pradesh.
The SAMP “mission is to assisting workers access institutional remedies and build self-organizations that make workplaces safer.”
Train cleaners protest ……Overdue salaries, unhygienic working conditions
Most of these workers, who are older adults and women, are working in deplorable conditions in the washing area due to which they face serious health issues. Many have been working under railway contracts for 15 years. “However, the new contractor does not pay us the guaranteed minimum wage of Rs 779 per day, which totals to around Rs 20,000 per month. After provident fund (PF) and employees’ state insurance (ESI) deductions, the take-home sum is about Rs 18,000. Since October last year, we have either been paid half the total or have been left unpaid,” they alleged.
“Payments became irregular and our working conditions worsened,” he said. Back in August, Bhosale had tried to take his life by consuming poison after a heated argument with the contractor. “My salary had not been paid for two months. Most of us are either receiving half our salary or delayed salary,” said Bhosale, a coach cleaner for 8 years.”
THE INDIAN EXPRESS (full story):
SAMP: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088129749553