• Workers planning to call state-wide strike against non-fulfilment of demands
• They are demanding implementation of existing labour laws and minimum wages
• Trade union members say 70% of contractual workers do not receive social security
• They are also opposing formation of the Assam Labour Welfare Society
• They feel it will dilute the role of labour department
The Assam chapter of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has firmed up plans for a state-wide strike if the government fails to fulfil their long-pending demands.
Workers from various and different sectors have been protesting over the past few months in Guwahati. One of their major demands includes proper implementation of the existing labour laws in the state.
Members of trade unions informed that even the Minimum Wages Act 1948 has not been implemented properly till date in the city as well as in other parts of the state. The Act states that all skilled and unskilled labourers must be paid minimum wages.
“There are still thousands of workers who do not receive even the minimum wages from their employers and it becomes difficult for them to run their households. Some of the worst affected labourers in this case are those working in the tea gardens,” said Tapan Sarma, general secretary of the Assam state committee of CITU.
He added that the workers often get paid less than the minimum wages as set by the government and the authorities are reluctant to take any action. This includes those working in shopping malls or any commercial establishments, construction sector and the staff in the nursing sector.
Members of the trade unions informed that even in the organised sector such as railways, transportation and the electricity department, the contractual workers are not getting the benefits as is mandated by the law.
They say that the scenario of the unorganised sector is worse. “At least 70 per cent workers do not receive any social security by their employers,” said a member of the CITU. He added that only a fraction of the contractual workers receive benefits from Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme.
Formation of Assam Labour Welfare Society opposed
Representatives from different national trade unions held a protest on January 18 outside the office of the labour commissioner to oppose the formation of Assam Labour Welfare Society (ALWS). They also submitted a memorandum to the labour commissioner voicing their demand.
They feel that the role of the labour department will be diluted once the ALWS is constituted. The state government has decided to form the ALWS which was followed by the release of a circular on December 19.
The society will have the labour minister as the chairman and the labour commissioner as the member secretary. It will also have 40 additional members which will include MPs, MLAs, presidents of village panchayats, chairpersons of the regional panchayats, presidents of zila parishads and only two representatives from the trade unions.
As per the circular, the ALWS will look after all the matters related to the workers and labourers in the state. Once constituted, the society will also oversee the implementation of the labour act in the state.
“It was the responsibility of the government to consult us before taking such an important decision which will impact the welfare of lakhs of labourers in the state,” said Sarma.
The workers have termed the formation of the ALWS as “unconstitutional” and said that it will be in conflict with the responsibilities which the state labour department has been entrusted with.
“We have demanded that the government should first hold discussions with representatives of trade unions and should take decisions according to the outcome of the meeting.”
A senior official in the state labour and employment department said that they were looking into the demands of the trade unions and should reach a consensus soon.