Guwahati, October 30: Trade unions led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have announced a statewide protest on November 2, demanding higher minimum wages and social security for workers in Assam.
As part of the agitation, workers will stage sit-in demonstrations outside Labour Department offices in every district from 10 am to 4 pm. The unions have also announced plans to disrupt the functioning of the department’s offices as part of their protest.
In a statement, CITU accused the BJP-led state government and the Labour Department of pursuing anti-worker policies. The organisation claimed that nearly 23 lakh workers in Assam have been deprived of their legally entitled minimum wages for the past 72 months.
The unions have demanded a minimum daily wage of Rs 800 for workers, along with an immediate government notification implementing the proposed rate. They have also sought a daily wage of Rs 661 for tea garden workers and called for the suspension of the implementation of the Labour Codes in Assam.
Other demands include removing procedural hurdles preventing registered construction workers from accessing welfare benefits, recognising Anganwadi workers and helpers, ASHA workers and mid-day meal cooks as workers, and replacing honorariums with proper wages.
The unions have also called for equal pay for equal work, wage fixation for contract workers in both the public and private sectors, and social security for motor transport workers, domestic workers and other workers in the unorganised sector.
According to the CITU statement, the organisation has been raising these demands through continuous programmes since September 1, 2022. It said representations had been submitted to the Labour Minister, Labour Secretary, Labour Commissioner and other senior officials, with assurances reportedly given at different stages.
CITU further stated that during a major workers’ protest at the Chachal protest site in Guwahati on September 28, senior Labour Department officials had assured the protesters that a formal discussion would be arranged by October 30. However, the organisation alleged that no formal meeting had taken place so far.
CITU state general secretary Tapan Sharma has appealed to students, youth, women, farmers and other democratic sections of society to extend support to the November 2 protest.
