Workers from the Sales Department of Banks DIH Limited have commenced industrial action for better wages. The men gathered on the parapet of the recently erected six-story parking lot, opposite the company’s Thirst Park Headquarters.
According to one of the men from the Sales team, they are not aware of the commission rates being used to calculate their salaries and are therefore unable to estimate how much commission they will be paid each month based on their work.
They claim that this system causes them to be robbed of the monies they earn, and so they do not receive much above their $36,000 a fortnight base pay. The workers rely on their commission to contribute significantly to their final salary.
The striking workers were reportedly told on Monday that they will receive a draft document on a payment adjustment, but at the meeting held this morning there was no draft. They were instead told that they will receive an increase around October.
This was unacceptable to the workers, as they claim to have been in negotiations with the Directors of the company since September of last year.
“We understand there is also company policy, and so they just can’t give one department increase, it got to be across the board, but what we are saying is that if they dealt with this department at this moment, because this is critical right now, deal with us, and then they can move on to the other departments.”
Some workers shared that they will be pleased with simply being offered a figure to use as their commission rates, that way they will be able to monitor their earnings.
When asked what figures they are requesting in the salary upgrade, one worker shared that they would accept $15 dollars for the hard cases and $10-$12 for the plastic cases, in reference to the products they sell in their daily duties.
Provided that these demands are met, and they can earn a relatively higher salary with the new rates that will be made known to them, the workers are prepared to return to their duties.