Unorganised sector labourers affiliated to various trade unions staged a demonstration here on Tuesday, protesting against the new restrictions imposed by the Labour Department officials in processing applications of the members of labour welfare boards for benefits.
The demonstration held near the Collectorate was jointly organised by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Labour Progressive Front (LPF) and Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
The trade union leaders who met Collector Anshul Mishra pressed for lifting the restrictions imposed by the officials, contradicting the government guidelines.
“We have asked the Collector to convene the monitoring committee meeting on the functioning of 18 welfare boards to discuss the practical problems the labourers were facing every day,” district secretary of CITU V.Pitchai said.
The trade unions complained that the officials had implemented a unilateral rule that the applications seeking marriage, education and pension assistance would be received only on three days a week, while the government had stipulated that the applications could be submitted on all working days.
Besides, the trade unions were not allowed to submit the applications seeking benefits on behalf of the members. “The workers in unorganised sector do not get assured jobs every day. If the officials force the employees to submit the applications in person it will deprive them of their one-day salary. Besides, they have to spend money on their transport to reach the office from far off places,” Mr.Pitchai said.
The officials were also trying to discourage the members by rejecting their applications and also by delaying the process of crediting the funds to their bank accounts.
Among the leaders who took part in the protest were R.Deivaraj (CITU), M.Nandasingh (AITUC), Alphonse Raja (LPF) and G.K.Ramasamy (INTUC).
