The Asanghatitha Meghala Thozhilali Union (AMTU) demanded that the Labour Department’s inspections in textile shops be made more transparent by including trade union representatives as well.
The demand comes in the wake of a Labour Department inspection in textile shops in the city recently, which was thwarted by the textile managements. The inspection was made in connection with the ‘right to sit’ campaign being organised by the textile shop labourers under the aegis of AMTU demanding that they should be allowed to sit down during working hours.
In a press release, AMTU alleged that the inspection was stage-managed and that major shops were avoided. Instead, inspection was held in shops that were co-owned by the labourers. The labourers were questioned in front of the employees, instead of conducting the hearing in private.
Still, a group of shop owners prevented the Labour Department officials from doing the duty. But the labour officer refrained from filing complaint against them. This showed that the inspections were a farce, AMTU complained. The union demanded that a case be filed against the owners who disturbed the officials on duty.
The ‘Right to Sit’ protest that began on May 1, was inaugurated by writer and activist M.N. Karassery.
