Mysore/Mysuru: Condemning sugar factory owners and management boards for failing to increase wages as per rules, sugar factory workers have decided to hold a convention in Bengaluru and stage a ‘Vidhana Soudha Chalo’ protest on Aug. 11, coinciding with the Legislature Session.

Announcing this at a press meet at Pathrakarthara Bhavan in Mysuru yesterday, Karnataka Sugar Workers’ Federation President B. Nagaraju said, there are 80,000 workers employed in 79 sugar factories across the State.

“From 1960 to 1989, sugar factory workers received wages as per the Central Wage Board for Sugar Industry recommendations. From 1990 onwards, wages were fixed through the Tripartite Sugar Wage Committee. However, under the 7th Pay Agreement, factory owners are still not paying fair wages. To highlight this issue, workers will gather in Bengaluru after the Session begins and march to Vidhana Soudha,” Nagaraju said.

He further warned that most sugar factories will begin sugarcane crushing on Oct. 25. “If the 8th Pay Commission agreement is not implemented by then, work at all sugar factories will stop from September itself, and we will launch an indefinite strike,” he cautioned.

Karnataka Sugar Workers’ Federation General Secretary D.N. Krishnegowda and leaders M.E. Partha, H.S. Girish, Siddegowda, Puttamadegowda, Ramakrishna, Javaregowda, Kubera and Ramesh were present.