Demanding immediate relief for stranded workers, unions urged PM to ensure they reach home safely, have adequate food and universal coverage of ration distribution without conditions.Central trade unions have urged government to halt its privatisation drive and stop the rampant labour reforms unleashed by states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat besides giving a cash support of Rs 7,500 per household for three months to help them overcome economic stress after two months of nationwide lockdown which has thrown millions of them out of job.
Ten central trade unions including the Congress-backed INTUC, Left’s CITU and AITUC and others like HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC are observing nationwide protests on Friday against anti-worker policies of the state governments.
Earlier, on Wednesday, RSS-affiliate trade union Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh had observed a nationwide protest demanding the President to not give assent to labour laws related ordinances moved by key BJP-ruled states.
“We demand that you halt your policy of wholesale privatization of PSUs and government departments through multi-pronged routes like corporatization, outsourcing, PPP and liberalized FDI,” the central trade unions said in a joint letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
Condemning the Rs 20 lakh crore fiscal stimulus announced in five tranches by the government last week, the CTUs said these have only empowered corporates.
“In essence, the five tranches’ announcement by your finance minister, instead of providing any relief to several crores of working population, both in urban and rural economy, has in actuality, come out as permanent empowerment of the big corporate and business houses, both foreign and domestic,” it said, adding that it only kills the basic human entitlements of the working people.
Demanding immediate relief for stranded workers, unions urged PM to ensure they reach home safely, have adequate food and universal coverage of ration distribution without conditions.
“Besides, ensure wages to all of them during the entire lock down period and a cash transfer of Rs 7500 to all non-income tax paying households including unorganized labour force (registered or unregistered or self employed) for at least three months i.e. April, May and June,” it added.
Source: indiatimes.com
