AGARTALA, Dec 16 (TIWN): In response to the call for nation-wide strike by Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India (FMRAI), Medical & Sales Representatives’ on Wednesday hold 12-hour of strike in the State.

Demanding before the Central and State Governments, FMRAI and its units submitted the demands which includes the enforcement of laws, expansion of laws, amendment of labour laws in favour of Medical and Sales Representatives, for the reduction of Drug prices and many others.

Detailing about the demands of the unit, it has been mentioned that the member of the unit demanded to reduce the drugs prices, to stop MMC aggression, retrieve public sector drug companies, to stop online sale of drugs.

Besides, they also demanded for 6 months of maternity leave for women SPEs, to extend SPE Act to 29 remaining industries, to declare minimum wages of Rs. 15, 000, to fix eight hours of work.

However, the unit further demanded for right to work in Hospital and Clinics, to convene industrial tripartite meetings, to issue legally valid appointment letter, to stop punitive action linked with Electronic reporting system, and to stop unfair marketing and unethical trading.

As per the MSR, medical representatives are working from 10 to 12 hours but they are not being paid overtime. The labour department of the state is totally insensitive in implementing SPE Act.

On the contrary, the health department has imposed ban on medical representatives for working in government hospitals. The demands also included relating to improving people’s health facilities, availability of life saving drugs to public at reasonable rates, revival of Public Sector Pharmaceutical Companies among others.

Main reason behind the protest was the lack of strict implementation of labour laws in the country which has made the employers tyrant and have lead to the exploitation of the sales representatives across the country.

It is to be mentioned here that more than 3 lakhs of Sales Promotion Employees, mostly known as Medical & Sales Representatives’ at the call of FMRAI resort to a day’s all India strike on December 16.