Overworked and Underpaid: How Can I Address Unfair Working Hours at Bata?

ajay-saji
I'm working at Bata in Kerala, and I work for 11 hours a day. I only get paid 12,500 rupees. My working hours are from 10 am to 9 pm. I spoke with the manager about a complaint regarding the long working hours, but they refused it. According to the labor act, the working hours should be 8 hours. Please help me with this—there are still people who remain silent due to fear of confrontation.
Madhu.T.K
Working Hours and Overtime Pay in Shops and Commercial Establishments

In shops and commercial establishments, the working hours are 8 hours, and any hour extended should be paid at double the rate. However, there are companies that require their employees to work for more than 8 hours. Occasionally, it is okay, and we should do it even if the employer is not paying overtime wages. But making it 11 hours every day is illegal and should not be allowed.

Minimum Wage Concerns in Kerala

In your case, the salary that you receive is another issue because in Kerala, I don't think that any sector has a minimum wage (notified by the government) which is less than Rs 18,000 per month. But the thing is that if you escalate it, you will be out of the organization and will end up in an industrial dispute. A complaint to the Assistant Labour Officer of the place where your shop is located would bring you justice. But that will spoil the relationship. Even otherwise, the media in Kerala is politically inclined to right political parties and is trying their level best to find an opportunity to establish that Kerala is not investment-friendly!

Investment Climate in Kerala

The fact is like this, a state will become investment-friendly if it allows the employers to exploit the working class and deviate from the labor laws!
Gurupada1986
Kerala: Working Hours for Shops & Establishments

Normal Working Hours - Eight hours in a day and forty-eight hours in a week
Interval for Rest - After four hours of work, an interval of rest of at least one hour
Maximum Overtime Hours - Fifty hours for a quarter
Spreadover Hours - Ten and a half hours in any day
Rate of OT Wages - Twice the ordinary rate of wages
indu 182
Please clarify if you are working in the showroom or factory of BATA and which place in Kerala. Furthermore, minimum wages in Kerala are segregated as per sector. What is your designation? Only after that can any solution be provided.
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