Beedi workers protest demanding pending wages
Mangaluru
Beedi workers in South Canara have launched an indefinite dharna satyagraha, demanding payment of pending minimum wages for the past six years, including the revised minimum wages implemented from April 2024. The protest is being led by the South Karnataka Beedi Workers Federation (CITU) and began in front of the Mini Vidhana Soudha.
Addressing the gathering, Federation General Secretary Balakrishna Shetty said a meeting with the Labor Minister and workers’ leaders is scheduled for November 27. If no decision is reached in favor of the workers, they plan to stage a sit-in at the Labor Commissioner’s office on November 28.
The state government had issued a minimum wage notification for beedi workers in April 2018, setting the rate at ₹210 per 1,000 beedis with an additional 4 paise per point as per the price index. Although the notification was unanimously accepted, beedi owners failed to comply, citing a High Court stay, and did not pay legally mandated wages.
A new minimum wage notification was issued in February 2025, fixing the wage at ₹270 per 1,000 beedis from April 1, 2024, plus 3 paise per point as per the price index, amounting to ₹301.92. However, beedi owners are paying only ₹284.88, the workers allege.
India has over three crore beedi workers across 13 states, with 95% being women, working in rolling, labeling, and leaf collection. Despite generating significant tax revenue, the government has failed to ensure fair wages, favoring employers instead. The protest was joined by CITU District President B.M. Bhatt, Federation leaders Sunil Kumar Bajal, K. Yadav Shetty, Vasanth Achari, Treasurer Sadashiv Das, and M. Devadas, with Federation President Sukumar Tokkotu welcoming the participants.
