The tenth national conference of All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation has demanded a separate unorganised workers welfare Act for private transport workers to be enacted in Parliament and social welfare measures like PF, ESI, insurance etc and resting facilities for the drivers.
The Modi government’s proposal to pass the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2016 was aimed at privatising the entire system and would result in loss of employment for lakhs of workers, the conference felt.
The Bill, already passed by the Lok Sabha, is also detrimental to operators and drivers of autos and taxis, who cannot compete with corporate entities with its proposing to encourage private permits indiscriminately, according to general secretary K K Divakaran. The conference was of the view that the amendments would affect the livelihood of lakhs of workers in private buses, lorries, driving schools, automobile workshops and spare parts’ shops.
CITU All India General Secretary Tapan Sen applauded the role of AIRTWF in taking the movement to the grass-root level and stressed the motto of “ Reach the un-reached” slogan to be adopted in strengthening the federation.
Launching the website of the federation, CITU all India president K Hemalatha said transport sector was a key sector in the economy and the campaign against the MV Amendment Act must be taken to the common public also. Delegates from 17 States and leaders of trade unions participated in the conference.
