How did the family of deceased MRF contract worker got ESI pension? -Ground Report
By Arpan and Vaishnavi from Chennai
Narayanan said to his daughter, “I will finish work at three o’clock and come to see you, Ma” and did not know that he would not return home.
Narayanan, who was working as a contract laborer at MRF, suddenly collapsed in the factory and died before being rushed to the hospital.
The ESI welfare scheme assistance and financial support provided by the joint venture has been a relief to the family reeling from this irreparable loss.
The situation today is that many of the effects of contract workers go unheard.
In this context, the death of MRF contract worker Narayanan came as a shock to his fellow workers and his family.
Justice for the Narayanan family is seen as important in their quest for rights when ESI pension and stipend for contract workers is octogenarian.
“This is the first time that a contract worker is getting a pension. At Narayanan’s funeral, along with union leader Eshil Caroline, the union comrades vowed to stand with his family. This was possible beyond the union’s initiative and the support of the management and the contractor,” said Comrade Sivaprakasam, Internal Vice President of the MRF Labor Union.
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How ESI support possible this time possible?
Already two contract worker deaths have taken place in the MRF factory a few years back. But they are said not to be moving towards a larger solution as they are not confirmed as factory dies.
“While only one family has been given gratuity, another family remains without any assistance till date. This is the first time that a contract worker in an MRF factory has been assured of a pension scheme.” Comrade Sivaprakasam mentioned.
The union’s presence made it possible for the family to receive assistance from Narayanan’s ambulance to the hospital until his funeral. The Ramanathapuram town administration, where Narayanan lived, also urged the trade union to support the family. After that the pressure on the administration led the family to get ESI benefits.
In case of sickness or death of permanent workers, Rs. It has already been decided in the union working committee that Rs.50 to Rs.100 will be given to the affected family from the labor side.
The management has agreed on the basis of asking the management to withhold funds from the permanent workers in case of damages.
Similarly, for the death of contract laborer Narayanan, the management refused when asked to hold the money from the permanent workers.
After that, the workers collected money themselves and gave 1,30,000 rupees to the Narayanan family.
After that the union continued to hold discussions with the management regarding ESI plans & pension and subsequently the management and the contractor agreed to provide the necessary documents to the ESI.
So the cooperation of the management and the contractor, but also the persistent efforts of the union, made this possible.
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Death of contract laborer and background
Narayanan has been working as a contract laborer in an MRF factory for over 30 years. He left home as usual and told his wife and daughter that he would return home after finishing work.
He has been urged to do OD after the 7 am to 3 pm shift. As soon as he went to drink water, he collapsed as if he could not do OD.
He was transported from the factory in a very bad condition. Stanley was taken to the Government Hospital after the nearby Sugam Hospital refused to admit him.
The doctors who confirmed his death there stated that he had died before being brought. The body was handed over to the family the next day after the post-mortem. .
Although myocardial infarction is reported to be fatal, its causes remain uncertain. Narayanan’s first daughter Meenakshi mentioned. It is shocking that the father, who walked away from the house, returned as a dead body.
He doesn’t have any kind of physical ailments,” says the voice shaking. “It’s a great regret that I was taken from the ward to the mortuary before I got to the hospital after getting the information. Our father is our world. Not a day goes by when we don’t mourn his loss,” says Meenakshi.
A helping hand given to a broken family
“We will not give up, we will not give up. We will not give up we won’t”- Narayanan family.
A defiant union vowed to stand with the family of a fellow worker. After that the MRF Workers Union, which consists of permanent workers, mobilized financial support in a historic move and stood by the family of the contract worker.
After the insistence of the association and with the support of the contractor & management, major ESI welfare schemes have been provided.
- Management and contractor have given compensation amount of Rs 25,000 to all five affected families.
- 15,000 was paid by ESI for the cost of the first phase of the ceremony.
- Rs 1,33,100 was given to the Narayanan family as per the resolution of the Executive Committee of the MRF Labor Union.
- Pension arrears amounting to Rs 72,000 to the laborer’s wife Deivanayake for six months from April; Rs 50,000 has also been given to the unmarried second daughter Anuta-Priya.
“Pension scheme is guaranteed for accidental death. A pension of 90% of the salary of the deceased worker is paid to the affected family.
Three-fifths of it will be given to the wife and two-fifths to the unmarried daughter,” said Tiruvottiyur ESI-Branch Manager.
Working environment and safety aspect
It is a fact that in a non-unionized environment, the position of contract workers is worse than that of permanent workers.
Contract workers who are terminated under the threat of being fired at any time do not make any demands.
“When there is a shortage of people in the next shift, they must do OD. After finishing the day work, they have to continue working at night. There is no other option,” says the contract worker.
As far as MRF is concerned, the working environment is very hot and with heavy machinery and equipment.
Therefore, safety equipment is given and safety classes are taken from the workers side.
In response to the question of how many days the classes are held, the permanent worker said, “In case of an accident, it is held immediately. Otherwise, it is normal.” As noted
First aid is provided inside the factory in case of accident. In case of emergency, it is usual to be taken to the nearest private hospital.
“If the workers cannot go to ESI hospital, if they submit their receipts for treatment at other private hospitals, then ESI reimburses them as per the rate fixed by the government,” said Usha, a nurse who has been working with ESI for over 20 years.
She also said that the Tiruvottiyur dispensary alone receives around 200 patients on an average per day
“Whenever accidents occur, the information will be obtained from the contractor and will be registered in ESI. On an average, 4-5 accident cases are registered in Tiruvotiyur branch” said Tiruvotiyur ESI – branch manager.
ESI is an insurance scheme that ensures medical coverage for workers and their families.
About 44 dispensaries in Chennai have dispensary facilities for providing medical advice, testing and dispensing medicines for underlying health disorders.
Patients are referred to Ayanavaram and KK Nagar Hospital for intensive medical care.
Also, the union is insisting to provide PF pension amount available at the rate of Rs.1000-1500, EDLI amount of 4 lakhs and compensation amount from the management side.
Comrade Sivaprakasam said, “In case such incidents happen in the future, the assistance provided now should be implemented by the administration.”
Although these efforts are a success story of union of permanent labor with contract labour, there is still a long way to go for changes in the overall rights and working conditions of contract labour.
The whole solution is to move towards bridging the gap between contract workers and permanent workers in terms of working conditions, wages, unionisation, etc.
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Key Services of ESI
- ESI Dispensary (Dispensary) operates from 7 am to 10:30 am and 4 to 6:30 pm. The second runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings
- Quality medical services and medicines in allopathic / psychiatry systems are ensured to insured workers. Patients can choose the treatment methods according to their preferences.
- 6 months maternity leave with pay is provided to ESI contributor
- If the worker has paid his ESI amount in the last month of his employment, once a year Rs. 120 only and continue to avail basic medical assistance of ESI
- 10 days paid leave to husband for family planning after second delivery
- Medical care is provided for injuries caused by accidents at work and holidays are paid with pay. The ESI Medical Board examines the extent of injury to the body and awards the scholarship.
- 90% of the salary amount is given as pension to the victim’s family for accidental death.
- In case of treatment in a private hospital, the expenses will be reimbursed as per the price fixed by the government
Get yourself registered in ESI
Management/Contractor registers on ESI website and issues E-PAHCHAN card to each worker. The workers with that card are registered at the ESI branch office.
Factories/Employees employing more than 10 workers and earning gross salary up to Rs.21,000/- are eligible to register with ESI.
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