News

On February 24th, Union Leaders and Worker Representatives from CITU, INTUC, & UNI Global Union met with Union Labour Minister, Sri. Oscar Fernandes At the meeting the union campaign team presented 8,000 postcards that have been gathered over 4 weeks by union members, demanding Standards for Security Workers. The discussion focused on security agencies that pay Provident Fund (PF) payments on less than minimum wage, because they bifurcate the wages. The Minister, Sri. Oscar Fernandes declared in the meeting that under no circumstances can PF payments be paid on an amount less than minimum wage. Several security agencies set their HRA at a high amount, meaning the basic wage and therefore the employer PF contribution is less than minimum wage. Deputy General Secretary of UNI, Mr. Phillip Bowyer, joined the team to present a paper outlining the issue and urging the Minister to take action. The Minister said that the laws are all in place and that he will personally review complaints we raise about the PF and bifurcation. Leaders from CITU and INTUC were joined by union members and security workers from Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Kochi to present the issues of security workers directly to the Minister. Our campaign team is now preparing further information for the Minister to review.