Massive protest by trade unions in Ludhiana

Ludhiana, August 2, 2019: Demanding withdrawal of Code of wages bill 2019 and Occupational safety and Health and Working conditions Bill 2019 the trade unions in Ludhiana at a call given by the central trade unions organized massive protest at Railway station Ludhiana followed by march to Clock Tower Chowk.

Speakers addressing the rally said that the government has reduced 44 laws giving rights to the workers on various issues to just 4 codes. These will outrightly serve interest of the capitalists and security to the workers will be finished. None of suggestions given by the central trade unions have been given any space by the government. It is pertinent to note here that the 7th pay commission of the government had recommended Rs.18000 as the minimum wage but on 10th July the Union Labour Minister on his own announced the minimum wage to be Rs.4628 which comes out to be around Rs.154 per day. This has seriously hurt crores of workers.

Prominent among those who addressed include M S Bhatia, Ramesh Rattan, Prof Jagmohan Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Vijay Kumar, Gurnam Sidhu, Lakhvinder Singh, Rajvinder, Harjinder Singh, Surinder Singh.

Further, speakers said the Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions bill introduced has totally ignored the conditions of the workers safety and health. The bill will be applicable to the enterprise with 10 or more workers. Such enterprises are very less in number. 93% of the total workforce of 54 crore people is in unorganized sector who do not have any place in the bill. Different sectors have different health and safety issues and so is their compensation. But all this has been ignored completely.

Adding, they said similarly, the transport workers have been demanding withdrawal of Motor Vehicle act but this too was passed on 23rd July. The15th Indian Labour Conference had recommended a formula for calculation of wages. But, despite repeatedly taking up the issue in the 45th and 46th Indian Labour conference unanimously this was ignored. Even the rights to strike and unionize are being taken away.

The call was given by central trade unions including unions include AITUC, CITU, INTUC, HMS, CTU Punjab. Others who participated include Moulders and Steel Workers union, Karkhana Mazdoor union, Jamhoori Kissan Sabha, Association for Democratic Rights, Kamagatamaru Yadgari Committee, Asha Workers, Rehri Fari Union, Class 4 Union.