A Glance Into The Lives Of Workers With Bite-Sized Stories From Factories, Homes & Communities
Taking Tech To The Field: Cividep’s field officers are dab hands when it comes to finding solutions to knotty problems. Take, for instance, the unending struggle of electronics factory workers to access their Employee Provident Fund (EPF) online accounts. This is one problem that field officers Nanthini and Nandhini are repeatedly presented with during their outreach work in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. Workers find it difficult to access their accounts especially because the EPF website and portal area are not that mobile-friendly. So, the duo has made it a point to carry laptops while on the field and this decision has paid off. Recently, they were able to help five workers resolve their issues on the spot. This included rectifying name and birth date mismatch, sorting PF claim rejection, facilitating total claim withdrawal, and helping merge old and new PF accounts. Looks like tech has its place in the field. (In pic: Field officers help workers sort out their PF woes using laptops)
Building A Case: A major electronics manufacturer yet again failed to give annual bonuses to a majority of permanent workers and all contract workers. This is a violation of the Payment of Bonus Act, of 1970, which states that all workers are eligible for a minimum of 8.33% of their annual wages as bonus. The issue has been escalated to Electronics Watch and workers were advised to pursue a complaint under its grievance mechanism. Further to this, a list of workers who did not receive their statutory bonuses is being collated, along with other details, to bolster their case.
Where Have The Orders Gone? Field officers who met with leather sector workers in Ambur in Tamil Nadu as part of Cividep’s study circle sessions have been noticing a new development. Many workers talked about not getting work due to a drop in work orders. Several of them work only 10-15 days monthly and go without wages on other days. What keeps them afloat are the essential food material procured under the public distribution system (PDS) system; the financial instability has led many to pledge their gold jewelry to manage daily expenses. Upon checking with ‘CHANGE’, the Women Workers Welfare Union, our team found out that several small factories in nearby Tirupattur have shut down due to a lack of orders from big factories in Ambur. Many of the workers, who lost their jobs, have now turned to MNREGA work and other informal opportunities.
Village Sojourns: Most government programmes fall short because they fail to reach those who need them most due to hurdles like limited internet access and mobility issues. This is where Cividep’s field team steps in. They venture to remote villages near Ambur (in pic) to identify home-based and informal leather workers and ensure they know about various vital schemes. They also help them sign up for schemes created by the state and central government labour departments. In the last six months, the team’s village-level outreach efforts have touched the lives of more than 400 home-based workers in and around Ambur. In July and August, the team held a dozen meetings and engaged with 150 workers.
Crafting Leaders: A recent two-day workshop for garment worker-leaders focussed on enhancing their skills in communication, leadership, and addressing gender-related issues. A total of 23 participants found the content to be applicable and relevant to their everyday lives. For instance, facilitators emphasised aspects of effective communication, negotiation techniques, and leadership skills to underline their relevance in garment factories. The discussions were tailored to address the unique challenges faced by workers in the sector.
Help At Hand: Cividep has long-standing partnerships with several Bengaluru-based grassroots organisations that serve as vital support systems to workers and their families, extending counseling and assistance through Worker Resource Centers (WRCs). These organisations play a pivotal role in addressing both work-related and personal challenges during times of crisis. Sadhana, for instance, provided critical aid to a newlywed facing spousal abuse, involving legal support and police intervention to ensure her safety. In another case, a disinterested school-going child of a worker found renewed motivation through Sadhana’s guidance. Additionally, organisations like the Garment Labour Union (GLU) have been instrumental in addressing workers’ rights, especially in cases of wrongful termination and harassment. GLU is providing mental health support to some workers, who were being verbally abused by supervisors for their refusal to do extra work.
Updates: Gokhularaj R, Kohila Senbagam, Preethi Gowda
Pictures: Nanthini, Nandhini, Sonia
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