People associated with un-organised sectors are deprived of almost every benefit that they are entitled to under the ‘Delhi Shops and Establishments Act-1954’. Old Delhi’s famous markets like Chandi Chowk, Nai Sarak, Khari Bawli, Sadar Bazar, and Kashmiri Gate spearhead the employment of these people with no documented record.
“I have been working in Khari Bawali for the past 11 years. I started my job with Rs 1,800 and now I get Rs 5,800. No identity cards, no medical assistance, no leaves apart from Sundays. I cannot even prove that I have been working here for all my life,” says Tek Chand, a worker at a dry fruits shop in Khari Bawali.
As per ‘Delhi Shops and Establishments Act,’ an un-skilled person is entitled to get Rs 8,632, a semi-skilled person is entitled to get Rs 9,542, and a skilled person can ask for as much as Rs 10,478 per month.
“You bring anyone to this market, salary would start from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 and maximum one can get Rs 7,000. No other benefits are applicable as we are not even an employee. There is no record prevalent for the employees working here. We get our salaries after a month with no extra pay for extra hours and it has been a trend in this market for a very long time,” Chand added.
“There is very little hope among us as no political party has ever addressed our concerns. Each one of them seems to be banking on contractual employees in this election. What about us who do not even have any contracts,” asks Pyare Lal Goswami, working in Bhagirath Market, Chandi Chowk.
“It is believed that about 70 per cent population of the total man-force in Delhi is associated with un-organised sectors, social security among them is a major issue,” said Shri Virjesh Upadhyay, general secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.
Almost 90 per cent people of un-organised sectors do not even raise their voice against their employers fearing about their future. If they get fired, these workers look for another job in the same market or the other without going to the Labour Union or any other institution seeking justice.
There is a trend that if one such person goes to the union with a complaint, he will be black-listed by other shopkeepers too in the market and then it would be very difficult for him to get another job in the same market.
“I have been associated with a Chartered Accountant (CA) firm as an accountant since June 1, 1996, and I am getting paid merely Rs 7,500 for my 11 hours of service. It is a clear violation of the existing minimum wages act. It’s sometimes really very difficult to prove your terms and salary as there is no existing record,” says Om Prakash.
“I have been working in Khari Bawali for the past 11 years. I started my job with Rs 1,800 and now I get Rs 5,800. No identity cards, no medical assistance, no leaves apart from Sundays. I cannot even prove that I have been working here for all my life,” says Tek Chand, a worker at a dry fruits shop in Khari Bawali.
As per ‘Delhi Shops and Establishments Act,’ an un-skilled person is entitled to get Rs 8,632, a semi-skilled person is entitled to get Rs 9,542, and a skilled person can ask for as much as Rs 10,478 per month.
“You bring anyone to this market, salary would start from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 and maximum one can get Rs 7,000. No other benefits are applicable as we are not even an employee. There is no record prevalent for the employees working here. We get our salaries after a month with no extra pay for extra hours and it has been a trend in this market for a very long time,” Chand added.
“There is very little hope among us as no political party has ever addressed our concerns. Each one of them seems to be banking on contractual employees in this election. What about us who do not even have any contracts,” asks Pyare Lal Goswami, working in Bhagirath Market, Chandi Chowk.
“It is believed that about 70 per cent population of the total man-force in Delhi is associated with un-organised sectors, social security among them is a major issue,” said Shri Virjesh Upadhyay, general secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.
Almost 90 per cent people of un-organised sectors do not even raise their voice against their employers fearing about their future. If they get fired, these workers look for another job in the same market or the other without going to the Labour Union or any other institution seeking justice.
There is a trend that if one such person goes to the union with a complaint, he will be black-listed by other shopkeepers too in the market and then it would be very difficult for him to get another job in the same market.
“I have been associated with a Chartered Accountant (CA) firm as an accountant since June 1, 1996, and I am getting paid merely Rs 7,500 for my 11 hours of service. It is a clear violation of the existing minimum wages act. It’s sometimes really very difficult to prove your terms and salary as there is no existing record,” says Om Prakash.