[Reader-list] PROTEST NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES AND DENIAL OF WORK

[Jeebesh Bagchi]

PRESS RELEASE

WORKERS OF MICHAEL ARAM EXPORTS PRIVATE LIMITED
PROTEST NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES AND DENIAL OF WORK

Seventeen workers of Michael Aram Exports Private Limited (B-156 DDA 
Sheds, Okhla Industrial Area Phase I, New Delhi-20) stood with placards 
in Connaught Place and Janpath Lane Market on Divali, November 1, 2005 
to protest against the denial of work in the factory since March 2005, 
non-payment of wages, and non-payment of their Divali bonus.  

Michael Aram is an America-based artist and designer whose metal artware 
products (tableware, cutlery, vases, hardwares, etc.) are marketed in 
high end retail department stores in America such as Macy’s and 
Bloomingdales (please see www.michaelaram.com for details).  He has been 
conducting business in India for over fifteen years.  Michael Aram 
Exports Private Limited (India) supplies finished products to Michael 
Aram Inc. (USA), and operates production units in Okhla Phase I, Lado 
Sarai, Kishangarh, and Sahibabad (U.P.), and is headquartered at F-61, 
Ground Floor, Sujan Singh Park, New Delhi (Ph.29523920, 29523095, 
29522297-8).  The annual turnover of Michael Aram Exports is estimated 
at Rs.9 crores, while that of Michael Aram Inc. is $4.4 - 6.7 million.  

Steel polishing is done at B-156 DDA Sheds, Okhla Phase I.  The work is 
extremely difficult, dirty, and dangerous.  Workers are blackened in the 
production process, wear tattered and torn clothes, cough and spit up 
dark phlegm, and suffer from chronic colds, fever, stomach disorders, 
chest pains, and tuberculosis.  The workers (24 presently) are on the 
company muster rolls and have been paid minimum wages (Rs.2950-3386), 
though they have been denied legal overtime rates, timely dearness 
allowances, clean drinking water, and proper pollution masks.  These 
workers are migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, and are 
highly skilled, inventive, and hardworking, and have increased 
production quantity (by double for many items) and quality since the 
unit was started in 2001.   

In March 2005, a dispute broke out between Michael Aram and the 
company’s Indian Director (and thirty-percent shareholder), Francis 
Joseph, over alleged siphoning and bungling of funds, amongst other 
charges, and the case is being carried out in the Company Law Board.  
Citing this dispute, management stopped giving work to workers in all of 
the factories of Michael Aram Exports, and workers were made to sit 
idle.  Michael Aram assured workers at the time that the Directors’ 
dispute would be resolved within two weeks and a new transparency and 
accessibility would be brought into the company.  Instead, water, 
electricity, tea, and other facilities were cut, and wages were given 
late and reluctantly every month, only after workers filed complaints in 
the Labor Department (via the Delhi State Kamgar Union (IFTU)).  The 
exigency of going back and forth to the Labor Department led to the 
death of one worker, Ramdev, whose cycle was hit by a car on the way 
back from the South Delhi Labor Office in July 2005.  Although Michael 
Aram promised Ramdev’s wife at the time that she would be given a job on 
compassionate grounds, the management has yet to act on this promise.  

Meanwhile, in May 2005, Michael Aram started a new company and 
production unit at C-109, Okhla Phase I under the name of Michael Aram 
Design India Private Limited, and has been carrying out the exact same 
work there through a combination of newly recruited employees, former 
employees of Michael Aram Exports who have tendered their resignations, 
and contractors’ workers working on an illegal night shift, now 
relocated elsewhere.  

In October 2005, alleging that there was no more money left in their 
accounts, Michael Aram Exports management stopped paying wages to its 
workers.  On Divali, no bonus was given.  B-156 workers have filed a 
case under the Minimum Wages Act in the Labor Department for non-payment 
of September wages.  Although there have been no official closure or 
retrenchment notices of any kind, management has offered workers their 
full and final settlements.  But the metal workers of B-156 DDA Sheds 
desire work, in any of Michael Aram’s units, including C109, and have 
communicated the same in a letter to Michael Aram, who has not given a 
response, and is said to be in America at present.

Beginning October 27th, B-156 workers have taken their struggle to the 
streets, standing with placards in and around Okhla Industrial Area, in 
an effort to generate awareness of the above events and developments as 
well as engage in conversations and discussions with workers at large 
about their common experiences and difficulties.  On Divali, workers 
brought their placards to Connaught Place and Janpath Lane Market, in 
the attempt to reach out to inhabitants of the capital city more 
generally.  They quietly stood, like statues, within the busy, festive 
market as shoppers walked by and occasionally stopped to read the 
messages and inquire into their present plight.  

Should not every worker be allowed to celebrate Divali, even in a modest 
way?  Is this how we wish foreign employers to treat the workers of this 
country?  That too, within the heart of the capital city?  Should we be 
welcoming into this country a set of arrangements which increasingly 
look upon workers as things to be exploited and discarded at will?  Eid 
and Chhat are now rapidly approaching.  Without wages, yet also without 
the desire to submit to the illegal and inhumane practices of Michael 
Aram Exports management, B-156 workers will continue to be seen on the 
streets of Delhi with their placards, with the hope that some festivity 
might be found in these new conversations and discussions with fellow 
workers, residents, and co-strugglers of the capital city.     


The Employees of Michael Aram Exports Private Limited
B156 DDA Sheds, Okhla Industrial Area Phase I
TEXT OF PLACARDS


1.  JULY MEM VETAN RUKA, EK MAZDUR KI JAN GAI
AB RUKI HAI TO KITNE KI JAN JAYEGI?

Vivad ke calte har mahine mem deri.  July ki payment me deri ki vajah se 
shram-vibhag mem shikayat kar lautte vaqt car ki takkar se cycle savar 
hamare sathi Ramdev ki jan gai.  Ab phir vetan rok hai to kitne mazdur 
bhaiyom ki jan lemge?  

WAGES WEREN’T PAID IN JULY, ONE WORKER DIED
NOW THEY’VE BEEN STOPPED AGAIN, HOW MANY MORE WILL DIE?

Due to a dispute between the Directors, each month our wage payments 
have been late.  In July, we went to file a complaint in the Labor 
Department, and on the way back, our co-worker Ramdev was hit by a car 
and died.  Now wages again have not been paid.  How many more of us will 
have to die this time?  

2.  PAHLE ASHVASAN, BAD MEM MUKARNA  
MAZDUROM KA MANOBAL TODNE KA NAYAB TARIKA

Director Michael ka ashvasan March 05 mem do hafte mem kam dene ka, 
pardarshi company banane ka, parantu aj 6 mah bad bhi kam nahim diya.  
Hamare sathi Ramdev ki shram vibhag mem shikayat kar lautte vaqt 
accident mem maut ke bad unki patni ko naukri ka vada kiya, parantu aj 3 
mah bad bhi naukri nahim di hai.  Pata nahim mritak mazdur ke patni aur 
baccom ka kya hoga?  Abhi management dvara vetan bonus nahim dene ka 
nirnay.  Kya ham ummid kar sakte haim ki management is bar bhi apni bat 
se mukaremge?

FIRST GIVE YOUR WORD, THEN GO BACK ON IT
A FINE WAY TO BREAK WORKERS’ SPIRIT

In March 2005, the Director, Michael Aram, promised to give us work 
within two weeks’ time and to bring transparency to the company.  But 
today, six months later, he has yet to give us work.  On the way back 
from filing a complaint on non-payment of wages at the Labor Department, 
our co-worker Ramdev had a road accident and died.  He gave his word 
that he would give Ramdev’s wife a job but today, three months later, 
she has yet to be given this job.  What will happen to Ramdev’s family 
now?  Now management says that they will not give us our wages or 
bonus.  Can we possibly hope that they will go back on their word this 
time?      

3.   DASHAHRA PHIKA, DIPAVALI ANDHKAAR

Dashahra to jaise taise bit gaya.  Karva Chauth karvi rahi.  Dipavali 
andheri dikh rahi hai.  Tankhvah to di nahim, bonus ki aas karem kaise?  
Baccom ko kaise bahlayemge, patni ko kaise bahkayemge?  Khud to bam bane 
baithe haim, patakha kaham se bajayemge?  

DASHAHRA WAS LACKLUSTRE, DIPAVALI WILL BE TOTAL DARKNESS

We somehow got through Dashahra.  Karva Chauth was bitter.  Dipavali is 
looking absolutely black.  Our wages have yet to be paid.  How can we 
hope for our bonus?  How will we give our children a good time?  How 
will we explain things to our wives?  We ourselves have become bombs.  
Where is the question of exploding firecrackers?  

4.  DARPAN VAHI, CEHRA BADAL GAYA

Pakke mazdurom ko khali bitana, nai factory khol vahi kaam karvana.  
Sthai karmcariyom ko khali bithana, bahar thekedari ke zariye kam 
karvana.  Ghotala ke nam par factory band karne ka bahana, nai factory 
mem naye sire se ghotala karna.

THE MIRROR’S THE SAME, ONLY THE FACE HAS CHANGED

Make your permanent workers sit idle, start a new company and have the 
very same work done there and through outside contractors.  Close the 
factory on the pretense of the bungling of funds, open a new factory and 
start bungling anew.  

5.  DO MALIKOM KE BIC PIS GAYA MAZDUR

Do malikom ke bic vivad jhagra ghotala adi ki ladai March 5 se shuru hua 
aur ham mazdurom ko khali bithaya.  Dusra nai company Michael Aram 
Design ke nam se khol dena, kam vahi karvana, purane logom ka resign 
lekar naye sire se bharti karna, naya ghotala calu.  Sthai mazdurom ko 
khali bithaya aur bahar thekedarom ke madhyam se kam karvana.  Tankhvah 
to band ho gai to bonus ki ummid kya karem?  Vivad, jhagra, ghotala 
malikom ke bic, bali ka bakra bana mazdur.

WORKERS CRUSHED BETWEEN TWO PROPRIETORS

A dispute between the two proprietors over alleged bungling of funds 
began in March 2005 and we workers were made to sit idle.  A new company 
was started under the name Michael Aram Design India Private Limited, 
and the same work is being carried out there.  Resignations were 
tendered from former workers in exchange for fresh employment and along 
with this, bungling of funds has started afresh.  Permanent workers are 
made to sit idle while work is done outside by contractors.  Wage 
payments have been stopped.  May we hope for our bonus to be paid?  The 
dispute, quarrel, and bungling are between the proprietors, but workers 
have been made the sacrificial goats.  

6.  PAHLE HALAL, BAD MEM JHATKA
MAZDUROM KO MARNE KA NAYAB TARIKA

Directorm ke vivad ke calte ham sabhi ko March 2005 se khali baithaya.  
Cay pani bijli adi band aur ab tankhvah bhi dena band.  Halaal kiya to 
tankhvah band kiya.  Jhatka mara to 60 admi ko acanak hisab kiya.  Abhi 
bhi hamari halaal jari, aujar tez karne ki taiyari.  

FIRST SLICE THE THROAT, THEN CHOP OFF THE HEAD  
A FINE WAY TO KILL OFF WORKERS

Due to a dispute between the Directors, we have been made to sit idle 
since March 2005.  The company stopped tea, water, electricity, and now 
they have stopped paying our wages.  They sliced the throat, and wages 
were stopped.  Then they chopped the head, and 60 workers were given 
their final settlements.  Our throats are still being sliced.  The blade 
is being sharpened for the chop.

7.  TANKHVAH BAND, MALIK FARAAR

Company ke donom malikom ke vivad ke calte March 2005 se ham mazdurom ki 
khali bithaya aur Sitambar se tankhvah bhi band kar di.  Jaham ek taraf 
ham apni rozi-roti ke lie pareshan haim to dusri taraf ek malik Dilli 
mem chupa hua haim to dusra malik America cala gaya.  Ab tak payment 
nahim mila.  Management ka kahna hai ki company ke khate mem paisa nahim 
hai.  ‘Malik se bat karo, shram-vibhag mem shikayat karo, malikom ka 
putla phumko, jo caho so karo.’  Jab donom malikom faraar haim, to ham 
mazdur kisse bat karem?  Jiske pas paisa hai, vah to kahim bhi bhag 
sakta hai.  Parantu ham mazdurom ko payment nahim milegi to 
makan-malikom aur dukandarom se ham kahim aur kaise bhag sakte haim?  

WAGES STOPPED, PROPRIETORS GONE

Due to a dispute between the two company proprietors, we workers have 
been made to sit idle since March 2005.  Since September, wages also 
have been stopped.  While we are facing great difficulty for our daily 
bread, one proprietor is hiding out in Delhi and the other has left for 
America.  We have not been paid our wages, and management says there’s 
no more money in the company account.  ‘Go and talk to the proprietors, 
file a complaint in the Labor Department, burn effigies of the 
proprietors, do whatever you feel like.’  When both proprietors are 
nowhere to be found, whom are we to speak to?  Those who have money can 
run anywhere.  But if we don’t get our wages, can we possibly flee from 
our landlords and shopkeepers?       

8.  NAUKRI SARKAR KI, SEVA PUNJIPATIYOM KI

Malikom ke vivad ke calte har mahine payment mem deri aur phir payment 
hi band kar di.  Har mahine shram-vibhag mem shikayat dalne par 
shram-adhikari pratyaksh mem hamare paksh mem bol kar hamem ashvasan 
dete haim, hamara hausla badhate haim.  Shram adhikari company mem 6 
baje chutti ke bad hi pahumcte haim, derh ghante tak company mem rukte 
haim.  Jab bahar ate haim to cehra khushhaal, magar khabar hamesha 
badhaal hi dete haim.  Shram-adhikari sarkari naukri nahim karte haim, 
punjipatiyom ki naukri karte haim.  Kaham milega nyay?

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT, BUT SERVICE TO CAPITAL

Due to a dispute between the two proprietors, every month our wage 
payments have been late and now they have been stopped altogether.  
Every month, upon filing complaints with the Labor Department, the labor 
officers give assurances to us and bolster our spirits.  The labor 
officers show up at the company only after 6 pm, and stay there up to 1½ 
hours.  When they emerge from the factory gate, their faces are always 
beaming, but the news they bring is always bad.  Labor officials don’t 
do government service, they work for the capitalists.  Where will one 
get justice?  

9.  HISAB NAHIM, KAAM VETAN CAHIE

Ham kushal karigar haim.  Hamne jugadom ke zariya bhi utpadan badhaya 
haim, quality sudhara hai.  Iski saza yah hai ki donom malikom ke vivad 
mem ham 6 mah se khali bithaya gaya.  Nai company mem utpadan karvana, 
thekedarom dwara bahar se kaam karvana aur hamara vetan bhi nahim diya.  
Hamne kaam manga to management dwara hamem koi javab nahim.  Hamem hisab 
nahim, kaam aur tankhvah cahie, sath hi Dipavali ka bonus.   

WE DON’T WANT FINAL SETTLEMENTS, WE WANT WORK AND WAGES

We are skilled workers.  Through our own efforts and ideas we have 
brought about increases  in production and quality.  The punishment for 
this is that thanks to a dispute between the proprietors we have been 
made to sit idle for six months.  The company now gets production done 
in a new factory, and also via outside contractors.  We have asked for 
work but we have yet to get an answer from management.  We don’t want 
our final settlements.  We want work, wages, and our Divali bonus.