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Media Coverage
The Times of India
Tuesday 30 December 1997
By A Staff Reporter
Several thousand medical and sales representatives from
all parts of the country converged in the metropolis on Monday to protest
against the alleged anti-labour policies of multi-national pharmaceutical
companies.
The protesters, under the banner of the Federation of Medical
Representatives Association of India (FMRAI), took out a massive morcha
from Azad Maidan to Kala Ghoda, waving red flags and banners and chanting
slogans against the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI)
and Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA).
The morcha blocked the arterial D.N. Road for nearly an hour in the
afternoon, creating a major traffic problem.
``Ever since the country has adopted the policy of liberalisation,
employees are finding themselves in a difficult position. The
multi-nationals are gradually eliminating the organised labour force, as
they force contractual and casual employment on the workers,'' said a
spokesperson R.N. Ghosh who came from Madhya Pradesh.
``Take for instance medical representatives. We were hired directly by the
company and are covered by labour laws. As such, we are entitled to
terminal benefits such as provident fund, gratuity and even workmen's
compensation. However, the multi-nationals have started the practice of
shifting recruitments to franchisees or hiring staff on a contract basis,
thus denying us most of the benefits. Moreover, there is this new policy
of hiring medical representatives under the executive cadre, but on a
lower salary. Thus we stand to lose from all quarters,'' Mr Ghosh
explained.
The protesters pointed out that bodies like OPPI and IDMA were turning a
blind eye to these developments.
Chitrabrato Mazumdar, West Bengal general secretary of the Centre of
Indian Trade Unions (CITU), to which the FMRAI is affiliated said, ``The
plight of the labour force is the same everywhere in the world these days.
In Australia, the government has already changed labour laws, as a result
of which unions can no longer sign any agreement with managements. The
labour unions are being destroyed everywhere, as companies realise they
can cut down production costs this way.''
The protesters pointed out that such policies were ultimately detrimental
to consumers too. ``Multi- nationals hand over production of goods to
small scale units and then sell the product under their brand name, making
massive profits. Yet, the medicines are priced so exorbitantly that they
are out of the reach of the common man.'' They said liberalisation had
struck a harsh blow on local industries, which were on the path of making
the nation self reliant in medicines.
The union later submitted a memorandum to the OPPI and IDMA, both of which
have their headquarters in Mumbai. They demanded regularisation of
employment of medical and sales representatives, protection of their
employment against retrenchments and a reduction in the price of drugs.
General secretary of OPPI B.S. Ramesh told this newspaper, ``We are
helpless, since our organisation has no locus standi on the issue. We
cannot interfere in recruitment policies of individual companies. They
will have to take up the issue with each of them. However, we shall
circulate their demands to all the companies affiliated to us.''
Representatives of IDMA could not be contacted.
For More Information Contact:
FEDERATION OF MEDICAL & SALES REPRESENTATIVES’ ASSOCIATIONS OF INDIA
372/21 Russa Road Est, Kolkata-700 033, INDIA
Tel: +91-33-4242862
FAX:
Internet: fmrai@vsnl.net
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