The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Labour officials continue raids on malls in Hyderabad

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Monday, Aug 03, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Labour officials continue raids on malls in Hyderabad

Staff Reporter

Managements of all erring malls face action

Officials visit Hyderabad Central in Panjagutta and Big Bazaar in Ameerpet
Department detects 22 ‘outside vendors’ operating from Big Bazaar

HYDERABAD: For the fourth consecutive Sunday, Labour Department swooped down on different malls in the city and sealed Bata showrooms at Ameerpet, Abids and Chikkadpally.

Joint Commissioner of Labour B. Ajay, who led the raids, claimed that Bata alone had nearly 60 criminal cases pending against it with the Metropolitan Magistrate.

“Bata employees union filed a writ petition that they are being forced to work on Sundays. The Bata management didn’t listen to us. So we sealed the shops,” he said.

Department officials also went around Hyderabad Central mall in Panjagutta and Big Bazaar in Ameerpet, both belonging to Pantaloons India Limited. Although they were authorised to operate 365 days of the year, they pointed out that the management further sub-leased their premises to private vendors which are not registered under the Shops and Establishment Act 1988.

At 9.30 a.m., just as the workforce was turning up for work, four teams started the raids. Department officials duly checked their identity cards, letting in only employees of Pantaloons India Limited while taking statements of those working for outside employers. They were later asked to go home as Sunday was a holiday.

Hyderabad Central alone has 150 private vendors operating on its premises employing nearly 415 sales personnel. “All these vendors (including some international brands) are enjoying holiday exemption without applying for permission from the government,” he noted.

‘Important evidence’

Mohd. Nazeeruddin, senior sales executive of Mumbai-based Guess Watches company, told officials that he works from 10.30 a.m. to 12 midnight during weekends with no overtime pay.

“They have two swiping stations – one for employees of Pantaloons India Limited and other for those working for private vendors. It’s an important evidence for us,” Mr. Ajay said. The department also detected 22 ‘outside vendors’ operating from the premises of Big Bazaar in Ameerpet.

The Joint Commissioner warned that action would be taken against all erring mall managements and would also recommend “cancellation of holiday exemption and file IPC 420 case against managements taking exemption by misrepresentation and cheating the government.”

As for private parties that illegally set shop in mall, he said they would be prosecuted for not obtaining registration certificate under the Act.

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