Hyderabad: The exploited life of salesgirls

Hyderabad: It’s been 19 days since Kavitha (name changed), who works in a city-based food bazaar has got a day off. She works 12 hours at a stretch with no overtime.

Her case is similar to that of thousands of young girls and women employed in supermarkets, jewellery, garment stores and malls.

Whether at the cash counter, or segregating merchandise, or sticking labels, or attending to customers, the maximum pay they get is between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 a month.

You see them dressed smartly and being polite to customers, but the reality is that stress and exhaustion have been taking a toll on their health. Kavitha is paid Rs 7,800. She told this newspaper, “I requested for a week off, but the manager replied, ‘since you have joined recently, wait for another week’.

It is already 19 days. I work in the vegetable and fruit section. My original work timings were 6.30 am to 4.00 pm, but now I am relieved after 6.30 pm. We are four in the morning shift and made to do a second shift if the others don’t turn up for work.”

We spoke to a group of young women working at a supermarket in Somajiguda and Bowenpally. Unaware of the fact that they are being exploited at work, they were hesitant to talk about it.

“We get lunch break for 20 minutes and are allowed to take two five-minute breaks. Two employees can’t take a break at one go, even for lunch. After standing for 8.5 hours at the counter, I am supposed to distribute registration cards to the customers and collect details of their phone numbers and addresses,” says K. Ambika.

Geethika from Medak is a B.Com graduate, working at a postal service store. She said, “Apart from printing thousands of addresses and sticking them on parcels, I have to prepare salary sheets, date entry of stock. However, I am not paid extra. The manager said it is part of my work. Sometimes I get Rs 500 for extra work, which I save for medicines for my widowed mother. I have developed finger cramps as I enter numerous dates during those eight hours. During the festival season, I don’t find time to even relieve myself.”

Vanitha Rao works at a jewellery store in Secunderabad. She says that she developed a skin allergy on her face as she has to wear makeup throughout. “I have no choice. The management insist that we must look appealing at work. I can’t let go of my job since I have taken a personal loan and the money gets deducted from my monthly salary,” she said. 

The living conditions of these young women are pitiable. Some seven to 10 girls share a small room or live in congested women’s hostels. Activist Gita Ramaswamy says that apart from the exhausting working hours, “eight or ten girls are forced by the management to live in single rooms close to the store. 

The second shift girls cook for the early shift and vice versa.  With this meagre salary, it’s impossible to stay in good health. Their life is about the store, cooking, domestic work and insufficient sleep. It is the company’s responsibility to pay salaries which would support their living conditions. 

Lawyer Rami Shetty who deals with human rights cases, says there is a steady stream of women who are coming from the villages and small towns to pursue work in Hyderabad. 

“There is a surplus of workers. The management doesn’t give heed to personal problems since workers are easily replaceable. Thus the salary rates are below the minimum wage, which is a violation.”

“The majority never complain as survival of the family is more important than their own exploitation.”

Ravali Kumari works at a beauty parlour She says she spends her weekly off in doing domestic chores. “However, television in the hostel and also mobiles is our general time-pass. I watch downloaded movies and on rare occasions go out to nearby markets or places of worship.”