Rajamahendravaram: Aluminium button workers cry for help

Rajamahendravaram: With aluminium industry losing its sheen, button workers (who makes dots on the aluminium utensils) are facing crisis owing to dwindling wages and lack of work.

An aluminium button worker Kilari Hanmantha Rao told The Hans India on Monday that 100 families were eke out a living in button work. On an average each worker can work on 33 kg aluminium utensils.

After manufacturing the utensils, the companies give them for button work and pay an amount of Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg as per the agreement between Aluminium Reku Button Workers Union and the union of companies. The workers do the work at their houses and hand over the utensils.

The number of families depending on the button work has come to 100 from the earlier 200. As demand, as well as wages, have come down, there have been no new entrants into the vocation.

Industry sources said campaign against harmful effects of use of aluminium for cooking in social media and in medical literature has also adversely affected the industry.

The button workers are urging the manufacturing companies to raise the rate per kg to Rs 30- Rs 35. "Currently, 10 aluminium companies are operating in the city and the selling rate of aluminium per kg is in between Rs 230 to Rs 250. If they raise the rate per kg, it would somehow mitigate our plight," Hanmatha Rao said.

He also appealed to the government to extend necessary help to them for their upliftment.