Akshaya Patra Foundation violated labour laws: ABKS

Akhila Bharata Karmika Sangha (ABKS) has complained that the Akshaya Patra Foundation, Boloor, has failed to follow labour laws and warned of carrying out a protest demanding cancellation of Akshara Dasoha contract with the foundation.

The protest will be conducted in front of the Zilla Panchayat office on September 14 at 10 am, said the Sangha members.

The Sangha state unit president Harish Kumar Shetty Jakribettu, who addressed mediapersons on Tuesday, said that 15 workers, who were suddenly dropped by Akshaya Patra Foundation, had complained to the Labour Department.

“The labour commissioner, however, has merely directed them to approach through a trade union. The Deputy Commissioner also wrote a letter to the Department on July 30, but no action has been taken against the Foundation. The Zilla Panchayat can add the Foundation to the black list, but it has not done so,” he complained.

“The Foundation has not installed CCTV cameras in its premises or in the kitchen. There is a requirement of 240 workers, but there are only 50 people employed at present. Though the Foundation gets Rs 18 lakh from the government every month, but the workers do not benefit in any way from it. The Akshaya Patra employees have been working, but the bill would be issued from Iskcon,” he added.