KSM&SRA Milestones and Moments
Milestone Achievements of Federation FMRAI and it state units like KSM&SRA for Sales Promotion Employees in India and Karnataka.
Sales promotion employees union FMRAI and its state units like KSM&SRA have played a significant role in improving the working conditions and benefits of sales promotion employees. Some of the key milestone achievements of this unions include:
1. The enactment of the Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976 (SPE Act)
was a landmark achievement in the struggle for the rights of sales promotion employees in
India. The FEDERATION OF MEDICAL AND SALES REPRESENTATIVES' ASSOCIATIONS OF
INDIA(FMRAI), played a pivotal role in this struggle, tirelessly campaigning for the enactment
of the Act and providing support to sales promotion employees across the country.
a. Prior to the SPE Act, sales promotion employees were largely unorganized and had limited
bargaining power. They often faced exploitation from their employers, such as low wages, long
working hours, and unsafe working conditions. The FMRAI recognized the need for a
comprehensive law to protect the rights of these workers and began to struggle for the
enactment of the SPE Act.
b. The FMRAI's efforts were met with resistance from employers, who opposed the Act's
provisions for minimum wages, issue of Appointment Letter, other trade union laws as deem
fit, and leave benefits. However, the FMRAI persisted, organizing protests, rallies, and other
demonstrations to raise awareness of the plight of sales promotion employees and to build
public support for the Act.
c. In 1976, after years of struggle, the FMRAI's efforts finally paid off. The SPE Act was enacted
by the Central Government, providing a much-needed safety net for sales promotion
employees and significantly improving their service and working conditions. The FMRAI and its
state units like KSM&SRA empowering the sales promotion employees to advocate for their
rights.
d. The enactment of the SPE Act was a major victory for the FMRAI and for sales promotion
employees across India. It demonstrated the power of collective action and the importance of
organized labour in fighting for worker rights. The FMRAI's unwavering commitment to this
cause has left a lasting legacy, ensuring that the rights and dignity of sales promotion
employees are protected.
2. Securing higher wages and salaries for sales promotion employees: FMRAI and state units like KSM&SRA continuous demanding the state Governments for the riase in minimum wages and demanding for real wages. FMRAI successfully negotiated for higher wages and salaries for sales promotion employees in many companies which has helped to improve their standard of living.
3. 8 hours work: with struggles across the country the FMRAI and KSM&SRA have demanded 8 hours work notification with successfully reducing the long working hours of sales promotion employees, which has given them more time to rest and spend with their families.
4. Improving working conditions: FMRAI and its state unit like KSM&SRA have worked to improve the working conditions of sales promotion employees, such as providing them with better accessibility to work places streamlining the long waiting hours at clinics and hospitals in majority of its subunits..
5. Providing Death Relief Fund benefit: KSM&SRA giving Death Relief Fund benefit for sales promotion employees of Rs 20000/- to the nominee of the member.
6. Legal support: The KSM&SRA is extending the legal support to the trade union victimized members and to all those sales promotion employees who are deprived of timely payment of wages, nonpayment of wages and non reimbursement of field expenses. Legal assistance is given to sales promotion employees who services all illegally terminated and transferred.
7. It is lodging suitable complaints before appropriate Authorities against unfair and unjust acts of employers on the sales promotion employees.
8. In addition to these specific achievements, the FMRAI and KSM&SRA have also played a more general role in improving the working lives of their members. They have done this by providing them with a voice in the workplace and by representing their interests to employers.
9. Other Industries: With continuous demand from FMRAI the Ministry of Labour and
Employment, Government of India ("Ministry of labour") by its notification dated 31 January,
2011, has extended the Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976 ("SPE
Act") to companies operating in ten new sectors – namely,
I. Cosmetics, soaps, household cleaners and disinfectants,
II. Readymade garments,
III. Soft drink manufacturing,
IV. Biscuits and confectionaries,
V. Automobiles (including spare spares and accessories)
VI. Surgical equipment (including artificial prosthesis and diagnostics),
VII. Electronics, computers (including accessories and spares),
VIII. Electrical appliances, paints, and
IX. Ayurvedic, unani and homeopathic medicines.
10. With years of KSM&SRA struggles and demand in association with FMRAI the Govt of Karnataka has notified the working hours in 30 Districts in the year 2013 which is currently sub judice.
KSM&SRA and FMRAI's Role in Supporting Sales Promotion Employees
The FEDERATION OF MEDICAL AND SALES REPRESENTATIVES' ASSOCIATIONS OF INDIA (FMRAI) and its state unions like KSM&SRA have played a supportive role with financial and logistical support to sales promotion employees in filing complaints against the unfair and unjust acts of employers. KSM&SRA in support with FMRAI are working to raise awareness among the sales promotion employees and be free from exploitation.
Conclusion
The KSM&SRA in association with FMRAI have made significant progress in improving the working conditions and benefits of their members. FMRAI has played a supportive role in the development of Trade union and Legal Rights of the sales promotion employees across the country, As sales promotion employees unions FMRAI and its state union like KSM&SRA continue to grow stronger, they will play even more important role in the lives of all sales promotion employees