A number of workers and leaders of various trade unions took out a procession on main streets of the city on Sunday to observe May Day.
The workers serving with Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, the Gram Panchayat and Anganwadi workers took part in the procession.
Addressing a meeting held after the procession, S.B. Shivashankar, of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions demanded the regularisation of services of those workers employed on a contract basis in various establishments of both the Central and State governments. He urged the government to fix the amount of Rs. 18,000 as monthly minimum wage for the workers. The wages paid to the workers should be revised regularly as per the consumer price index, he said. He pressed for regularisation of the services of Anganwadi workers and those working under the midday meals scheme.
‘Stronger security net’
The protesters raised slogans demanding that the government strengthen the social security net for the workers of the unorganised sector and for the strict enforcement of labour laws. Trade union leaders J.N. Chandrahas, Y.R. Nagaraj, Basavaraj, Akkamma, Hanumamma and Shashikala took part in the protest.
The members of Nirantara cleaned the ground where nomadic families reside in tents, near MRS Circle in the city, to observe May Day. Addressing a meeting, Sunil Kumar Shiranelli, convener of Nirantara, demanded that the government provide housing facilities for the families and education for their wards.
Members of Nirantara organisation Anilkumar T., Manjunath, George Saldanah and P.C. Nagaraj were present.
