The Indian National Trade Union Congress has welcomed the government’s liquor policy. A press release, citing INTUC president R. Chandrashekharan, said the trade union did not agree with job losses in the sector. He also pointed out that the Congress policy was temperance and not prohibition.
The INTUC will take the issue of mounting wage arrears under the national employment guarantee scheme to the court. The trade union’s State committee, which met here on Thursday, decided to issue notices to block and grama panchayat secretaries, as they are liable to pay fines if there are wage payment arrears under the employment guarantee scheme. Notices will be sent within a week.
Meanwhile, Three thousand INTUC volunteers will hold a one-day fast in front of the State Secretariat on July 12 to protest against what the press release described as “attempt to sabotage” the employment guarantee programme. The INTUC press release, while welcoming the State’s labour policy, called for the formation of a committee headed by the Chief Minister and Labour Minister to implement the policy. It also reiterated the demand that minimum wage be fixed at ₹600.
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INTUC also plans to hold meet on labour problems in the Information Technology sector on July 31, the press release added.
The INTUC meeting here also decided to resist the Union government’s “anti-public sector” move. A meeting of all trade unions will be held at the Kalamassery Town Hall on July 5. The trade union also demanded that the government take over all cashew factories that are now closed, and steps be taken to end nurses’ strike.