Srinagar, July 10: Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and State President of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami on Wednesday accused the present dispensation of making every attempt to erode whatever achievement had been made by the working class over the years.
“The government has been initiating harsh measures against the working class across the country. The policies pursued by the government have led to job losses and the livelihood of common people,” Tarigami said while addressing a rally organised by the CITU here.
He added, “Unemployment rates have reached levels never seen before. The government has miserably failed to address the issues people face.”
According to a statement issued here, hundreds of workers carrying red flags and banners assembled at Sher-i-Kashmir Park to mark the Demands Day. The rally was attended by the scheme workers, daily wagers, contractuals and seasonal, labourers associated with the Kashmir Constructional Workers Union.
In his address, the CPI(M) leader said the working class has tremendous tasks in these challenging times to continue building broader unity to defend their natural resources and national assets.
He said the scheme workers like Anganwadi workers, helpers and ASHAs are compelled to work on paltry emoluments. “They have been fighting for better remuneration or a fixed salary over the last many years but to no avail,” he said, adding, “Similarly, the Mid-Day Meal Workers, CPWs, MGNREGA employees, contractual, HDF, construction workers, Need-Based, Seasonal and casual labourers are neglected and their long pending demands are not being met.”
Tarigami demanded the implementation of the Minimum Wages Act and urged the government to fix the minimum wage to Rs 26,000 per month for all casual labourers, seasonals, contractual, daily wagers, transport workers and workers working in different industries and shops.
He appealed to all shapes of political opinion to support the genuine demands of workers. “They must list these demands in their manifesto. We must unitedly raise our voices in defence of working people in J&K,” he stressed.
Others who spoke on the occasion include Abdul Rashid Pandit, Trade Union leader, Lateefa, Haneefa, Suraya, Masooda Anganwadi leaders, Dilshada and Firdousa ASHA leaders.
These leaders outlined the demands including scrapping the four labour codes, ending the National Monetisation Pipeline and other forms of privatisation, ensuring job security for contract workers, including continuation of employment even when contractors change, and equal wages and benefits as permanent workers.
They also called for rescinding notifications reducing penal charges on employers defaulting on EPF, EPS, and EDLI dues, scraping the New Pension Scheme, restoring the old Pension Scheme, minimum pension of Rs 9,000 or above for EPS pensioners, recognizing scheme workers (such as Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, and midday meal workers) as workers and providing them with minimum wages and social security benefits, including pensions.
The speakers urged the administration to implement the agreement signed between NHM management and ASHA Workers Union Jammu on October 3, 2023, at Jammu and implement the EPFO Commissioner’s directions to cover all Casual Paid Workers of BRO under the EPF scheme and ensure job security and regularisation of all workers.
The other demands include enforcing labour laws for construction workers involved in roads, railway tracks, and other projects across J&K and pension for all construction workers registered under the Jammu & Kashmir Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
They said these demands aim to improve wages, job security and social security for various categories of workers in Jammu & Kashmir.
