HASSAN: Karnataka State Medical & Sales Representative's Association (KSM&SRA) will hold its 19th State-level annual conference at Bijapur on January 25 and 26. State CITU secretary S. Prasanna Kumar will inaugurate the conference.

Secretary of Medical Representatives Association National federation Sukumar will also address the gathering.

General Secretary of the KSM&SRA Vajendra Kulkarni said here on Tuesday that the conference would focus on effects of globalisation and liberalisation and efforts of US capitalism that is trying to control third world countries through World Bank. It would also discuss the effects of direct foreign investment in India.

Mr. Kulkarni said problems of medical and sales representatives are plenty. Though Government announced minimum wages, drug-manufacturing companies have not implemented it despite their agitations, Labour Department that had to enforce minimum wages act is also silent. Their demand to bring them under the preview of Sales Promotion Act and to declare medical representative work as industry and bring them under Industrial Dispute Act is yet to materialise.

Demands

Mr. Kulkarni said they also demand Central Government to extend Sales Promotion Employees Act to medical representatives. Minimum wages, leave facility and bonus should also be given to them.

Some pharmaceutical companies are appointing representatives on contract basis and making them come under unorganised sector.

He said the conference would be held at Sri Siddeswara Mangala Karyalaya in Bijapur and the venue is named after N.K. Upadhyaya who was a freedom fighter and a trade union leader.

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