Mysuru: As many as 483 workers from the Mysuru region have filed 783 cases in labour courts against their employers over the past two years, alleging non-payment of minimum wages and denial of statutory benefits.The petitions have been filed by workers from Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts, citing violations of the Minimum Wages Act and labour welfare regulations.The three districts together have an estimated five to six lakh workers employed across hundreds of small and medium-scale industries. Mysuru district alone has 26,112 such industrial units spread across key clusters including Hebbal, Metagally, Hootagally, Hinkal, Kadakola and Thandavapura. These units provide direct employment to over four lakh workers, while another three lakh are engaged through outsourcing arrangements.The issue has come into focus following the state govt’s recent revision of minimum wages, which increased wages for unskilled workers by around 60%. Under the revised structure, minimum wages have been fixed at Rs 23,376 per month for the Bengaluru zone, Rs 21,351 for cities and towns under municipal corporations and city municipal councils, including Mysuru, and Rs 19,318 for smaller towns and rural areas. The govt issued a notification in May introducing a uniform wage structure, replacing the earlier industry-specific wage system.The implementation of the revised wage structure, however, has run into hurdles after industry associations, chambers of commerce and employers’ bodies raised objections, triggering disputes between employers and labour unions.Labour unions allege that many workers were receiving less than Rs 17,000 a month even under the previous wage regime and were often denied benefits such as employees’ state insurance (ESI), provident fund (PF) and bonus payments.G Jayaram, district president of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said hundreds of workers have approached labour courts seeking relief. However, he claimed that many others refrain from filing complaints due to fears of losing their jobs, financial insecurity and possible retaliation by employers. He also alleged that several workers are made to work beyond the stipulated eight-hour shift without adequate safeguards.Assistant commissioner of labour Lalitha Bai told TOI that workers can file complaints under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and that the labour department facilitates the process to help them secure justice.Industrialist Ramakrishnegowda, meanwhile, said the wage revision was introduced without adequate consultation with industry stakeholders. He argued that several employers, particularly small and medium enterprises, are finding it difficult to absorb the increased wage burden because of financial constraints.
