Four female contract workers at HPCL Surathkal, who dedicated 15 years to their roles, face continued defiance from the company's new contract agency following their recent dismissal. Sharanavva Bajantri, Paravva Ganiger, Suvarna Patil, and Surekha Kollad have maintained a 43-day protest outside the HPCL main gate, demanding justice for their alleged illegal termination.
The Surathkal Nagarik Horata Samiti and CITU intervened, facilitating a legal notice from the women to both HPCL management and the contract agency. The response, however, came from SVS Service, an Andhra Pradesh-based firm now holding the contract. Their reply stated, "Ours is a new contract. The company did not instruct us to appoint you. We neither appointed nor dismissed you. We have no relation to you."
Munir Katipalla, Convenor of the Surathkal Nagarik Horata Samiti, expressed outrage over this stance, accusing HPCL's "Hindiwala" officers of disregarding established contract labour laws. According to these regulations, a change in contract agency should not result in the dismissal of existing contract workers. Furthermore, the principal employer, HPCL, bears the responsibility for ensuring worker benefits like gratuity and PF, even if the contractor fails to provide them. The law also prohibits the principal employer from replacing contract workers.
Katipalla alleges that HPCL officials are attempting to conceal their responsibilities and the employment fraud perpetrated against these Kannada-speaking women through the contract agency. He issued a direct warning to HPCL, stating that this matter would not conclude easily. "These Kannada women will not withdraw their protest until they receive justice," Katipalla affirmed in a press statement. He also warned that public organizations across the district stand in solidarity with the affected women. Post-Dasara, the protest will intensify, transforming into a broader movement against what he termed HPCL's "indifferent attitude towards locals and ongoing injustices."
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đź“° Source: Vartha Bharati DK