Hotel workers protests against low wages

Ahead of summer tourist season, a section of hotel employees here has demanded 25 per cent hike in wages and implementation of labour laws and accused the labour department of siding with hoteliers.
About 200 hotel workers drawn from various hotels and restaurants from state capital today took out a procession and staged a demonstration in front of office of the Deputy Commissioner to express their resentment.
Himachal Hotel Mazdoor Lal Jhanda Union General Secretary Vinod Nirsanta accused hotel owners of exploiting the workers and denying them fare wages and other facilities granted under labour laws.
He saidthat workers were forced to work for 12 to 14 hours a day and not given the minimum wages as per the rates fixed by the government and alleged that the labour laws are not being implemented due to allegedconnivance ofthe department with hotel owners.

He said that workers would hold gate meetings at their respective hotels from April 16 to May 2 top press for their demands.