The Construction Worker Federation of India (CWFI) and Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) would stage a week-long dharna from February 16 to February 22 in front of the Deputy Commissioners’ office demanding minimum wages and disbursement of social security benefits for construction workers.
State secretary of CWFI Nagaiah Swamy and CITU District Secretary M.B. Sajjan, addressing presspersons here on Thursday, said that the government should fix the minimum wages for construction workers at Rs.15, 000 a month. Mr. Sajjan said that the Workers’ Welfare Board should also increase the monthly pension for construction workers from Rs.1, 000 to Rs.2,000 a month. The agitation would also urge for the lowering of pension age for women workers in the construction sector from 60 to 55 years.
He said the government should also extend the benefits of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) scheme to construction workers. The medical benefit cover under the RSBY scheme should be enhanced from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1 lakh, Mr. Sajjan added.
The other demands included medical assistance and scholarships for children’s education. Mr. Sajjan also demanded the shifting of the District Labour Department office to the Mini Vidhan Soudha building in Kalaburagi.
‘Fix minimum wages at Rs.15, 000 a month’
