Date:02/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050213790300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Implement labour welfare schemes: TUCC

Staff Reporter

Rallies, meetings mark May Day celebrations

Blood donation camp organised
Plea to provide bonus to all workers covered under ESI

Labour Department charged with adopting an anti-labour stand

BANGALORE: The Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) on Monday urged the State Government to implement 24 labour welfare measures, including equal wages for equal work, regularisation of anganwadi workers and job security for the organised and unorganised sectors.

The centre also resolved to fight multinational companies through a swadeshi agitation, strive for minimum wages for hotel workers and condemn police harassment of workers. Payment of bonus for all workers covered under the Employees State Insurance through an amendment to the relevant Act, priority for locals in employment and implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report recommendations were its other demands.

Earlier, several hundred workers attached to TUCC took out a march from Corporation Circle to ADA Rangamandira. Udaya TV workers organised a blood donation camp at the Rangamandira as part of May Day celebrations.

Member of Parliament Tejasvini Ramesh, speaking on the occasion, charged the Labour Department with adopting an anti-labour stand. The Department should address the problems of the workers and shed its pro-rich image, she said, adding that there was no limit to the problems faced by workers in both the organised and unorganised sectors. The entry of multinational companies had only worsened their problems, she said. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) took out a march from Mayo Hall to Banappa Park, where the workers attached to the outfit gathered for a public meeting.

The Bangalore district committee of United Trade Union Centre-Lenin Sarani (UTUC-LS), a trade union, organised a protest demonstration at Mysore Bank Circle and urged the Government to reinterpret labour laws in favour of workers.

The speakers elaborated on the multiplying problems in the industrial and economic sectors, all triggered by the policies of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation.

They also raised their voices against a court judgement related to the right to strike by government employees, regularisation of contract labourers and the right to hire and fire by employers.

The ruling class, in the light of these judgements, had become more aggressive, unleashing attacks on the workers' movements across the country, they alleged.