Liquor salesmen allege violation of labour laws

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 27

Members of the Jalandhar Wine and Beer Salesmen Employees’ Union have written to the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner alleging gross violation of labour laws by liquor contractors. Union members have alleged that attendance of all workers was not being marked at wine shops.

Led by union’s general secretary Ravinder Singh Ravi, members had said, “Minimum wages as fixed by the state government for different categories of workers was not being paid. Payment of overtime work at double the rate is not being made to the workers. The workers are not being allowed to take weekly rest as per the law. They are not being allowed to avail national and festival holidays,” he said.

The general secretary has pointed to more violations, “The workers are also not being covered under the Provident Fund scheme or even Employees State Insurance Scheme. They are not being provided wages slip, attendance car and leave card envisaged under the law.”

Ravi has demanded from the DETC to provide them the names and addresses of firms or companies and names of approved salesmen working in liquor vends during the year 2017-18. The union has also issued a legal notice to various companies including Malbro International Pvt Ltd, Gaurav Malhotra Wine Contractors, Dhillon Distributors and Doda Wine Company.