THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state-wide vehicle jatha of the INTUC state unit led by president R Chandrasekharan wound up its course at the Gandhi Park here, after triggering a debate to address the manifold issues creeping into the organised and unorganised sectors as well as the right of all to work with dignity and decent wages.
Chandrasekharan told reporters here the government at the Centre is duty-bound to share the benefits of economic growth of the nation to all concerned and repay a certain extent of it to the workers who had toiled on many fronts, over and above the wages paid by way of support schemes to make the achievement remarkable and shining.
"Unlike the former UPA Government and the Congress governments which ruled the country by lending an ear to the woes of the working class, the NDA Government is travelling through a different domain by professing pro-corporate and pro-rich theories and practices only,’’ he said. "The issues in the present milieu are teething and so are the courses to counter them for not only the interests of the workers but also the whole nation,’’ Chandrasekharan said.
The INTUC campaign focused on the demand for implementation of equal wages for equal work, minimum daily wages for workers at J600 and government support schemes in areas where workers are earning less.
Demands including abolition of the contract labour system and making ESI, provident fund, gratuity and bonus laws binding on head load, construction and motor workers, regularisation of the services of state workers belonging to the anganwadi, Asha, NRHM, palliative care and saaksharata preraks who had completed five years of service, minimum pension of J5,000 for workers of all categories were also raised. Constitution of a high-level empowered committee to implement labour policies, 200 days minimum work in a year and J 600 as daily wages and other benefits for MNREGS workers were the other demands.
The INTUC president said district-level panels should be set up to trace out the issues of various categories of workers and a system to tabulate the real earnings. ‘’Such a method will go a long way in ensuring adequate wages, including government-aided support wages, wherever necessary,’’ he said.
Other demands
Rs 5,000 for workers of all categories were also raised. Constitution of a high-level empowered committee to implement labour policies, 200 days minimum work in a year and Rs 600 as daily wages and other benefits for MNREGS workers were the other demands.