The members of the Tamil Nadu AITUC Construction Workers’ Union observed a day long fast at Somarasampettai on Thursday to press for the provision of pension by the Unorganised Sector Workers Welfare Board to all construction workers beyond the age of 60.
The pension scheme was introduced in 2005 and due to improper functioning of the board and the indifferent attitude of the official machinery it was not implemented properly. A large number of construction workers enrolled themselves as members of the welfare board, but they were denied pension on the excuse that they had not completed five years as members.
Later, the board decided to sanction pension to all those who were its members for four and a half years. But, the labour officials did not implement this decision of the board. After various agitations, the government came out with a GO favouring provision of pension to all the construction workers who had crossed 60 years.
The officials did not implement this GO also. Even those who were sanctioned pension, were given the same after a delay of one year.
The officials were not prepared to implement the scheme of provision of a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the family members of the construction workers killed in accident.
They demanded the intervention of Chief Minister to set right the wrongdoings of the officials and render justice to the hapless construction workers.
N. Periasamy, state president of the union, and K. Suresh, district secretary of the union, spoke.
