Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jan 2: The employees of Tebma Shipyards Ltd, Malpe, staged a protest on Monday, January 1 and condemned the company’s management for delaying the payment of their salaries since six months.

The workers have already put forward their demand to the administration board to pay the pending amount. But the board officers did not take it is seriously. Frustrated, the employees came here to meet the district deputy commissioner’s labour department officers.

Yashpal Suvarna, president, Fish Marketing Federation, “The administrative board has appointed Kerala and Maharashtra based people at Tebma Shipyards Ltd. This is creating problems for the existing employees. The board should not have employed people belonging to outside states. The board had agreed to give priority to local people only. New units have started in Hangarkatte, Babuthota and Bailakere. The board is not paying over time or giving additional allowances. 

“The board is providing jobs to people from other states. Association leaders had interacted with concerned officials. The employees here are working for low salaries. If they are not paid salaries every month, their life will be in dire straits. We also spoke to managing director Ramanath, with a team led by Kota Srinivas Poojary, but he resigned a few months ago. The company has earned profits here and invested in another place without paying salary to the employees.

“If Tebma is not able to run the company, the land can be used for fisheries activities. After discussion, they have now agreed to pay the salary and the arrears in installments,” he said.

Store in-charge Ravi and other employees demanded for justice. The company should pay six months’ salary, they demanded. Some of them said that they did not receive any special benefits from the company.