The Construction Workers’ Federations affiliated to Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has given a call for a sit-in protest through the night in front of Karmika Bhavan in Bengaluru on November 27 seeking fulfilment of various demands, including monthly pension and opposing the diversion of funds allocated to the Construction Welfare Board.
Members of Indian National Trade Union Congress, All India Centre Council of Trade Unions, National Centre for Labour, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha and Karnataka State Construction Workers’ Central Union will take part in the protest.
Shankar Kattisanghavi, member, Karnataka State Construction Labourers’ Welfare Board, addressing presspersons in Kalaburagi recently, said both the Union and State governments had failed to protect the interests of the working class despite introducing laws for labour protection.
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The families of construction labourers have been deprived of the benefits available to them across the State owing to the lack of proactive effort from the government to register construction workers in the board. Mr. Kattisanghavi added that there are more than 25 lakh constructions labourers in the State, of which only 11 lakh have registered with the board.
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Though the State government has been collecting huge amounts as cess by the employer, it has failed to utilise the same for the welfare of the labourers. The employer has to pay 1% of the total cost of the construction budget as cess. In the last ten years, the State government has collected nearly ₹6,000 crore as cess.
Mr. Kattisanghavi alleged that the labourers have also been deprived of their compensation specified for during pregnancy, accidents and deaths.
The demands also include scholarship, marriage assistance, health benefits, loan for construction of houses and increase in monthly pension. He also urged the board to continue both online and manual registration of construction labourers.