CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Beedi Worker's Federation claims that the beedi manufacturers in the State are using the Union Government order mandating a skull and crossbones symbol on beedi packs as a "diversionary tactic" and a way to deny the rights of workers. Beedi manufacturers in the State have halted production to protest the order and have threatened an indefinite strike from June 1, when the order comes into force.

In a statement, the federation demanded that the manufacturers resume production immediately and pay wages for the days production was halted.

It also urged the Labour Department to intervene and hold high-level meetings with the manufacturers, as soon as possible, to find a socially acceptable solution. The manufacturers claimed that anti-tobacco legislation is affecting business.

So, they were unable to deliver legally mandated rights and incentives to the workers, the federation said. Despite the belief that Tamil Nadu beedi manufacturers faced a higher production cost because of higher wages, the federation claimed that the manufacturers in the southern parts had defaulted on Rs. 100 crore worth of benefits to workers.

No service cards

In Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin districts, several lakh workers had no legal rights since they had to work without any logbooks, the release said. One thousand workers had not been given their service cards or provident fund payments.

Manufacturers in these districts were also flouting last year's wage revision order.

"Ban contract labour"

The federation also demanded that the Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966, be amended to ban contract labour.

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