'Cruel to expect a person to be on his feet for 8 hours': Chennai author on mall employee

There have often been conversations about the working conditions of delivery agents, salespeople, domestic helpers, etc. There have been times when these people have worked relentlessly and tirelessly come rain, cold or heat. While we are on this, let us talk about a post by author Shobana Ravi that is gaining traction online.

On Saturday, Ravi shared a picture of a man working in Chennai’s Phoenix Mall. His job required him to stand throughout the duration of his 8.5 hours shift. Ravi talked about the cruel and poor working conditions of workers in the mall and wrote a lengthy caption to go with the picture.

“This young man was seen standing in this place under the escalator since 12 noon (at Chennai Phoenix mall again. I come to know that their duty hours are from 12 noon to 8.30 PM.) He did not have a seat. I noticed that no seat has been provided for him. Unable to stand he was fidgeting and leaning on the desk as we sat close by sipping tea,” she wrote.

“It appeared cruel to expect a person to literally be on his feet for 8 hours and 30 minutes. Why won't the management provide a seat and treat these workers decently? Does the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947 stipulate that workers have to be provided a seat when they wait on customers for long hours?” Ravi continued.

While sharing the post, the author also pointed out the dangerous working conditions of labourers at deep-cleaning agencies. “They lock themselves in the toilets as they clean the wash rooms with acid. They are dangerously exposed to caustic fumes,” she wrote.