The eight district conference of construction workers affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress got underway here on Monday. The workers also took out a rally.
At the conference, State president, AITUC, K. Subbarayan said that price rise had hit hard the lives of workers, who found it hard to purchase basic commodities. At yesterday’s price they were unable to buy goods today and at today’s price they would not be able to buy goods tomorrow.
The price rise, like termite, had eaten away their purchasing capacity.
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The labour welfare-oriented laws that were in place were due to the efforts of Left parties and affiliated trade unions.
But now the Central Government was engaged in steps to repeal the laws and bring in amendments that would lead to exploitation.
Mr. Subbarayan said that after the BJP Government took over the price of medicines had multiplied several times, making them beyond the reach of common man. The Government had also taken steps to let drug companies fix the price of a few medicines.
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The construction workers’ union State Secretary K. Ravi said the labourers in the construction industry continued to struggle though they had a law that was enacted 32 years ago because of the provisions mentioned in the unorganised sector welfare act, only 10 per cent was implemented.
He complained that in the construction workers’ welfare board, the State Government appointed those who had nothing to with construction workers.