The Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India (FMRAI) has asked Tamil Nadu government to take stringent action against violation of Sales Promotion Employees (SPE) Act, 1976, and rules made there under by the pharma companies operating in the state.

In a memorandum, demanding the effective enforcement of SPE (Conditions of Services) Act, the FMRAI asked the state minister for labour to activate the inspectors appointed under the act for regular inspection of the premises of the companies without further delay as workers are being exploited by the managements.

The Association stated that the officials under the act, have not inspected any of the premises of the companies for enforcement of the provisions of the Act and rules made there under though the Act gives specific direction to the inspectors for regular inspection of registers and documents.

FMRAI listed 17 Chennai based pharmaceutical companies for allegedly violating the act in the memorandum. The list includes companies like Tablets (India) Ltd., Indo French Laboratories Ltd., SPIC Pharmaceuticals, TTK Health Care Ltd., Mano Orchid Healthcare Ltd., Apex Labs Ltd., Grandix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Fourrts India Laboratories Ltd. etc.

The Association said that the pharmaceutical companies are issuing appointments violating the Section 5 of the Act and Rule 22 (1) by not giving letters of appointment in prescribed Form A, Section 7 of the Act and Rule 23 under the Act in respect of details of SPE engaged by the company as per prescribed Form B, Service book for every SPE as per From C, a register of service book in Form D, leave account of each SPE in Form E. Though the Act provides punishments for contravention of the provisions under Section 9, none of the companies so far has been punished despite contravention, the memorandum points out.

Association is appealing to all major state governments in the country for effective enforcement of the Act as the part of its campaign against violation of the SPE Act.