Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 1: On world labour day, hundreds of employees from Government and semi-Government sector held a May Day rallies in Srinagar to express solidarity with the struggling workers and demanded labour and trade union rights.
The workers were protesting under the banner of ‘Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee of Trade Unions’ (JKCCTU) and demanded that their hard earned rights be safeguarded, which they alleged were under attack from policy makers. They blamed that the maximum profit goes to corporate sector while workers condition goes from bad to worst.
Addressing the rally Comrade Mohammed Maqbool president of JKCCTU and national secretary AISGEA said struggling workers all over the world are fighting against the neo- liberal economic and anti working class policies dictated by imperialist finance Capital.
He criticized the Central and State governments policy of outsourcing contractualisation and casualisation which has resulted in miserable condition of lakhs of workers because of meager wage and denial of labour rights.
He warned the Government against the PFRDA Bill and urged it to ensure pension for one and all. He also demanded minimum wage of Rs 10,000 for all till their regularization.
The protesters shouted slogans against out sourcing, privatization, casualism and contractualism in maximum departments of the State. “The casualism, contractualism has made the life of workers miserable because of low wages and hard labour rights,” Ali Mohammad Bhat, general secretary JKCCTU said.
He said the pension as the biggest social security is under attack which has made the social life of workers miserable and insecure.
Criticizing the ruling Coalition Government of the State for restoring to massive out sourcing and contratorization, Bhat said the basic labour rights to the casual, contract, Anganwadi, ASHA workers and other daily wagers should not be denied and demanded that their basic minimum wages should be Rs 10,000 per month till the regularization of their services.
Meanwhile, scores of women protesters mostly ASHA workers of Health Department and Anganwadi workers assembled at Sher-e- Kashmir Park here and demanded that the Government should enhance the monthly honorarium and explore possibilities for their regularization of services. All the workers were holding placards in their hands and raised slogans demanding recognition as workers, for minimum wages, dignity and better service conditions and minimum wages of Rs 10,000.
Addressing a huge gathering CPI (M) general secretary, M Y Tarigami urged upon the Government to look into the workload of Asha and Anganwadi workers, they have to collect information about the births and deaths in their villages. They also work with the village health and sanitation committees of the Gram Panchayats to develop a comprehensive village health plan besides their routine duty.
Another rally was held at Bemina by J&K Government Employees Federation and State Pensioners Welfare Society.
The rally was presided over by Noor Mohammed Kathjoo president pensioners during first session while second session was presided over by Abdul Ahad Rather President Federation.
On the occasion rich tributes were paid to May Day martyrs by the patron of the Society and veteran Trade Union leader Mir Ghulam Rasool. He held the policies of present Government both at Centre and state responsible for unrest among the working class.
He said growing corruption, unemployment, price hike has broken the back of working class and pensioners. Till these policies are not changed and increasing corruption will not end the fate of working class will remain same.
He said the Government was working on the dictates of capitalists and imperialist forces and politicians were looting the nation in the broad day light. He urged the working class to untie and fight against the forces inimical to their cause.
On the occasion Abdul Ahad Rather and Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shelwati highlighted the problems of pensioners and employees.
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