The Karnataka State Beedi Contractors' Federation has urged the ‘beedi' companies to increase the commission given to its members.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Mr Mohammed Raffi, Working President of the federation, said that the beedi contractors in the State are getting a commission of Rs 6.90 for every 1,000 beedies from the beedi company owners.
Stating that the commission offered by the companies is not adequate in the current economic scenario, he said it should be increased to at least Rs 10 for every 1,000 beedies.
He said that some of the raw materials supplied by the company owners are not of good quality. This leads to wastage in production of beedies. The beedi labourers and contractors bear the cost of wastages. This affects the earnings of these two sections of beedi industry, he said.
The managements of the beedi companies will be requested to look into these issues. Protest will be initiated against the beedi companies, if they do not consider the problems of beedi contractors and labourers, he said.
Asked about the condition of beedi labourers, he said that they are getting Rs 93 for every 1,000 beedies rolled. However, the State Government has recently increased this to Rs 103 for every 1,000 beedies rolled. This is yet to be implemented by the beedi company owners in the State, he said.
Terming beedi contractors as a bridge between the beedi labourers and the beedi manufacturing companies, he said the contractors procure raw materials such as ‘tendu' leaves and tobacco from the companies and supply them to the labourers. After rolling beedies from the raw materials, labourers supply the finished products to contractors. They, in turn, supply them to the companies. In this process, labourers get wages for the beedies rolled, and the contractors get commission, he added.