Beauty segment workers lash out at company over difficult work

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: A group of beauty segment workers employed with an urban services company, on Monday protested in front of its office at HSR Layout here alleging long working hours, blocking of IDs and other 'adverse' working conditions.

Workers, mostly from the North-eastern states, also alleged harassment by the company authorities and accused them of imposing new terms of work. A worker told reporters that they were told to put in 13 hours on weekends.

“If our ratings are below 4.8, we are not allowed to work, further” said another protesting beautician. It is also alleged that the company usurps 30 percent in commission for each booking and allegedly threatens to block employee IDs.

“Commute here is a headache, we’re blocked if we cancel our booking,” said another beautician.

The company is now allegedly prioritising new joinees at the cost of earlier appointees. This makes it difficult for them to secure consecutive bookings, said the employees.

A representative from the Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) alleged that the auto assigning of jobs to executives is similar to slavery.

“Women, who are promised work within a 5-km radius, are forced to work beyond that,” the representative claimed.