Members of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) staged a dharna in front of the head post office in the city on Tuesday to highlight their charter of demands, including steps to protect the unorganised sector workers from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
Led by CPI(M) State secretary R. Rajangam, the agitators raised slogans against the increase in the price of petrol and diesel and privatisation of public sector undertakings. They demanded that the Centre check rising prices of essential commodities such as rice, pulses and vegetables.
They also demanded that the government take steps for streamlining the functioning of the unorganised sector workers’ welfare board.
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Their other demands included equal pay for equal work and implementation of the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014 that guarantee their livelihood.
They demanded fixing of minimum wages at ₹18,000 for workers on the lines of Kerala and payment of ₹3,000 as pension to workers registered with the welfare board.