"An amicable settlement has been reached between the management of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trust and the Mumbai Mazdoor Sabha (MMS) acting on behalf of the workmen,” wrote Chandbibi Zaidi, president and Dhunji Naterwalla, general secretary of the MMS in a communication sent to Parsiana. Signed on August 25, 2016 at the office of the BPP by chairman Yazdi Desai and the MMS, the settlement is valid for a three-year period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. Though it took considerable time to arrive at a consensus, as the last board of trustees could agree on nothing, with understanding, a very good deal has been arrived in an amicable manner, they note.
Yazdi Desai (l) and Dhunji Naterwalla
Under the new terms, workmen and staff at Doongerwadi will gain monetary benefits ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,700 per month, along with various other benefits. Sick leave has been increased from 14 to 16 days. Funeral expenses have been hiked from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 for family members of the workmen, while for the workmen themselves these will now be Rs 8,000 instead of Rs 5,000. Every workman will have to contribute Rs 200 to the Death Relief Fund, which sum will be matched by the BPP.
Paid holidays have been increased from 12 to 15 days. Bonus will be given at the rate of 35 days for 2015-16, while for 2017 it will be calculated as 40 days’ pay. The retirement gift for those who have put in 25-30 years of service will be Rs 10,000 instead of the earlier Rs 7,000; for those who have worked for 30 years or more it will be Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 10,000. Long service gift for 20 years of service has been enhanced to Rs 7,000 from Rs 5,000; for 30 years this will be Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 7,000. Gift on marriage has been raised to Rs 5,000 from Rs 3,000. Rupees one thousand will be paid for purchase of shoes.
Khandhias will receive Rs 150 for lunch/dinner/tea if working on their weekly off. The sachkar (bathing of the body) fee for them has been upped from Rs 100 to Rs 300 and khand (carrying the bier) amount from Rs 900 to Rs 1,000. They will receive Rs 10,000 for cleaning of the dakhmas for which they earlier received Rs 9,000. With an accident insurance for hearse drivers of Rs 5,00,000 and a hardship allowance of Rs 1,000 for khandhias and hearse drivers, these workmen stand to benefit considerably.