The Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives' Association of India (FMRAI) is planning a countrywide protest against the Maharashtra government's move to expel medical representatives from workman status and its benefits under the state's trade union law.
The FMRAI deplored the state government's move pursuing amendment of Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act (MRTU & PULP Act) 1999. The federation, which has been demanding workman status for Medical and Sales Representatives for several years, is planning to campaign in every state to pressurise withdrawal of amendment bill from the Maharashtra state government, according to association sources.
"The amendment bill comes as a blow to our long pending demand to bring in similar laws (like MRTU&PULP act) in other states, which is still to be accepted by various state governments. The companies which were ignoring the act, even when it is relevant, will get an upper hand to exploit sales forces with this amendment," said the spokesperson of Maharashtra Sales and Medical Representatives' Association (MSMRA), the state affiliate to FMRAI.
The monthly executive committee meeting and the working committee meeting of FMRAI, to be held shortly, will discuss the issue and will decide the detailed action plan. The association, with the strength of more than 50,000 medical and sales representatives all over the country will commence the agitation soon after the meetings, said sources.
The Maharashtra state labour minister has put forward the bill to amend MRTU & PULP Act on 24th July 2007, which included cancellation of the select committee consisting of 20 legislative members to check into the viability of existing act and expulsion of medical representatives from enjoying the rights under the act. However, due to the immense pressure from various political parties and members of assembly, the government has postponed the discussion on amendment to next year, giving time to the select committee to continue its work up to December 2007.
The select committee, under the chairmanship of Ganesh Naik, the minister of state excise and environment in Maharashtra, has conducted two meetings from its formation in 2005, in which the decisions were not much favourable to the industry, according to sources.
Besides, Centre Of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the leftist forerunner of FMRAI is also involved in the campaign against amendment of MRTU&PULP act in Maharashtra. M K Pandhe, president, CITU has conduced visit to the Chief Minister and the labour minister of the state in last week, to discuss the demands of FMRAI.