Central trade unions stage dharna before East Singhbhum district headquarter

Jamshedpur: Central Trade Unions of the country today staged dharna in front of the East Singhbhum district headquarter here demanding immediate withdrawal of amendments made in the labor laws.

Led by Rakeshwar Pandey, Jharkhand State unit General Secretary of INTUC, the unions including Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. All India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Union, HMS, All India Central Council of Trade Union leaders took part in the dharna in front of the office of East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Dr. Amitabh Kaushal in support of their 11-point charter of demand, said S R A Rizvi Chabban.

Chabban said the charter of demand included fixation of Rs.18000 as minimum salary per month, scrapping of contract and outsourcing systems and wages and other facilities on par with permanent employees to the contract laborers.

Chabban, who is the Vice-President of Jharkhand State Aasangatith (unorganized) Mazdoor Congress, said the dharna was staged under the banner of Co-ordination Committee of Central Trade Unions.

The co-ordination committee also opposed the Foreign Direct Investment in sectors such as Defence, Insurance, Railways and disinvestment of Public Sector units, Chabban said demanding that the government must make it mandatory to register trade unions within stipulated 45 days.

Besides, he called for waiving of ceiling in Bonus and PF and increase ceiling in Graduity.

Pandey, who is also the Chairman of the Co-ordination Committee of the Trade Unions of Kolhan region here, said the Central leadership of the trade unions had several round of discussions with the Union government but nothing was done except giving assurance so far.

The co-ordination committee decided to stage dharna across the country to mount pressure on the government, Pandey added.

Later, a delegation of the Co-ordination Committee headed by Pandey handed over a memorandum addressed to the President of India in support of its charter of demand was handed over the Deputy Commissioner.