The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Headload workers Bill passed

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Headload workers Bill passed

Special Correspondent

Heated debate in Assembly on ‘nokkukooli’ issue

Bill seeks to repeal the Act of 2002
It expands scope of the worker to cover a few other tasks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Assembly on Wednesday witnessed a heated debate on the controversial ‘nokkukooli’ issue when the house took up the Kerala Headload Workers (amendment) Bill, 2008.

The ruling bench members led by Anathalavattom Anandan and others defended CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan who had called for an end to this practice.

Mr. Anandan said the Opposition parties had tried to misinterpret his party secretary’s view on the subject. Mr. Vijayan’s statement was bold because it clearly set out the party’s policy on the practice.

“Our party is clear about the issue and wants to segregate the good and the bad eggs,” he said.

The Bill seeks to repeal the Kerala Loading and Unloading (Regulation of Wages and Restriction of Unlawful Practices) Act 2002, besides expanding the scope of headload worker to cover a few other categories of tasks, including in ports and agriculture operations of a commercial nature.

It exempts persons engaged by an individual for domestic purposes for transporting furniture, shifting personal effects, residence and few other tasks.

The ruling front members maintained that the workers received better wages now as a result of the struggles led by trade unions. Workers had changed their style of functioning in tune with the changing situation as could be seen from the fewer labour problems.

The Opposition claimed that Mr. Vijayan had been forced to take a tough stand on ‘nookkukooli’ with a view to appeasing industrial investors. The Assembly later passed the Bill.

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