23 June, Delhi. On the fifth day of strike almond workers organized huge workers’ struggle rally and a demonstration at residential office of local MLA Mohan Singh Bisht. More than 700 workers were present in the rally which was organized under the banned of Karawal Ngar Mazdoor Union and had support from workers of Karawal Nagar employed in various industries and construction sector. The local MLA was not present at his residential office. A team of 10 workers will hand down the memorandum to him whenever he will be available.

Navin of KMU told that this strike has made it clear that since the almond processing factories are illegal and fall under the legislation of local MLA, he must act immediately to stop the naked violation of labour laws and exploitation of almond workers. The factories are operating with nexus of local police and factory owners and legislator and Labour office should immediately act to regularize the industries here. Workers have been demanding increment in wages in the almond pruning and machine shelling rate and better working conditions. Besides wage revision workers are demanding drinking water and toilet facility at factories, identity cards and pay slips and regularization of this illegal sector.

In evening a cultural program was organized by Karawal Nagar Mazdoor Union and Bigul Mazdoor Dasta where movie ‘The Modern Times’ was screened and revolutionary songs were presented. Ajay, of Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, told that plight of workers is similar to shown in the movie. Today in period of the second biggest recession after the great depression which the movie Modern Times portrays, the working conditions in unorganized sectors such as almond processing is even worse. This business is tied in the complex chain of international linkages which function round the year and employ several thousand workers. It’s a multi-crore business of almond shelling, where sack loads of almonds imported from California, find their way into the by-lanes of Karawal Nagar to be broken down, cleaned and repackaged for sale in both domestic and international markets. India is one of the largest importers of US almonds in the world today. About 80 % of the almonds imported reach the market in Khari Baoli. Though about 80% of the breaking and processing is done in Karawal Nagar. Almond shelling work is extremely tough and hazardous. The almond shells that are to be broken for extracting the nut, are quite hard and are made soft by treating them with certain chemicals. Workers work here without any safety equipment and without any insurance. Secondly, a lot of dust is generated in the course of almond processing. A small piece of cloth is all that the workers have to protect themselves from this dust. The dust can cause respiratory problems. Payment of wages is also erratic and a source of exploitation. Since there were no records maintained for workers except the owner’s own accounts of payments made, there was no transparent system of wage payment in operation. The strike is to demand these basic human living and working standards. Students, citizens, and various democratic organizations supported this strike. Members of Disha Student Organization, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Delhi Metro Rail Kaamgaar Union, Stree Mazdoor Sangathan also supported the strike and participated in rally.

Hastakshep