Medical and Sales representatives conduct cease-work strike

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, March 22, 2018: Medical and sales representatives in Manipur under the banner ‘Centre for Medical and Sales Representatives’ Union (CRU), Imphal’ today took up cease work strike demanding to increase their basic salary of Rs. 18, 000 per month along with variable dearness allowance.

The medical and sales representatives staged a sit-in here at Keishampat in Imphal to press for the demand along with four other demands.

They demanded declaration of May Day as holiday, fixation of eight hours work per day, prosecution of employers for violation of SPE Act, and right to work in hospitals and institutions.

Placing these demands a memorandum was submitted to the labour minister of the state, today. It appealed to amend Section 2 (s) for inclusion of “Sales Promotion Employees” in the definition of Workman under Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 to enable the medical and sales representatives to get relief under the law.

Demanding the wage increment the memorandum also appealed to notify the rate of variable dearness allowance for 100% neutralisation of price rise of all commodities.

“With the present wage we are enjoying it is very hard for us to face the rising price of commodities and services and problematic to maintain our family with so many requirements”, said an agitating sales employee.

The cease work strike was taken up simultaneously in all the states of the North East except Sikkim taking the slogan “Lets us fight to achieve our rights”.

We have appealed the deputy labour commissioner twice. We are now in war against exploitation by companies. Union ministry need to instruct the state government authorities to implement the recommendations of the SPE Act, said Oinam Pabindra Singh, District secretary, Imphal, CRU (NER).

The demonstrators lamented that the wage rate being demanded has already been enjoyed by other parts of the nation except in the North East.