Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120357740600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

“Revoke decision on welfare board”

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. James

UP IN ARMS: Forum of unorganised workers staging a protest in Madurai on Monday.

MADURAI: Members of Unorganised Workers’ Federation affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Manual Labourers Association staged a demonstration in support of various demands on the West-North Masi streets junction here on Monday.

A consortium of manual labour unions and women’s organisations participated in the protest which was led by M. Panchavarnam, State joint secretary, Unorganised Workers’ Federation, in the presence of Gabriele Dietrich, Convener, National Alliance of People’s Movements.

The workers wanted the State government to revoke its decision to hand over Workers’ Welfare Board to Revenue Department from Labour Department. Sectoral boards must be created for agriculture workers, fisherman, conservancy workers and folk artistes under the Labour Department. They also demanded a separate ministry for unorganised workers.

The welfare boards should be made to function through Labour Department with adequate representation from the unions. The Tamil Nadu Government must dispatch monetary benefits to the beneficiaries as per its orders issued earlier.

Marriage assistance, education assistance, accident relief and pension for handicapped victims should be processed at the earliest, retrospectively from the year 2005. The government must ensure minimum wages for all workers engaged in domestic work and hand embroidery.

Rights of migrant workers must be ensured with proper safeguards from bonded labour and provided special measures such as employment regularisation, housing and education for their children.