Unorganized sector workers staged a protest demonstration on 07.07.2008, Monday at 10 AM in front of Memorial Hall near G.H, Park Town against Government's moves to re-involve Revenue Department in implementation of Labour Welfare Board's functions.
The Tamilnadu Government has convened today the Advisory Committee constituted under Tamilnadu Manual Workers Act, 1982 to implement the Unorganized Sector Workers' Labour Welfare functions through Village Administrative Officers under Revenue Department. We, Independent Trade Unions who have been organizing the Unorganized Sector Workers across religious, caste and political affiliations, have already expressed our opposition G.O 23 which was brought out in this regard without any consultation with trade unions, Welfare Boards and Advisory Committee and strongly oppose this new stealthy move by the Government to implement this G.O.
After many protests by Unorganized Sector Workers, trade unions and political parties through out Tamilnadu since March 3rd, cases in high court, walk out by four central trade unions in Advisory Committee meeting, walk out by C.P.I(M) members of legislative assembly during Labour budget sessions in Tamilnadu Assembly, the Hon'ble Chief Minister's announcement to continue implementation of Labour Welfare Board functions under Labour Department has been an empty promise.
In addition, the issue of minority representation of five unorganized sector workers' representatives amid five government officials, five ruling party assembly members and five employer's representatives is yet to be resolved. All these efforts are meant to dissuade workers from availing benefits, weaken trade unions, and increase corruption in the process.
On the question of where the Labour Welfare Board functions belong, experts have opined that Labour Acts and relevant implementation functions can be implemented only through the Labour Department. The principle of natural justice where labour welfare functions should be administered only under labour department has been emphasized by Former Supreme Court Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer and National Campaign Committee of Unorganized Sector Workers in their letter to Tamilnadu Chief Minister.
Our demands:
The State Government should should not hand over Labor Welfare Board functions to Revenue Department and withdraw the regressive GO.
3% of budgetary allocation and levy on all forms of production and distribution, along with a small contribution from the workers, District/ Taluk wise offices, staffing, registration, renewals claims, and disbursement of benefits with in 1 month of application should be implemented.
The Advisory Committee and the Unorganised Workers Welfare Boards under the Tamilnadu Manual Workers Act should have 50% representation from workers. It should have representation for independent (non party) Trade Unions, with adequate representation for women. The Welfare Boards must be headed by trade union leaders as in Kerala.
Welfare Boards for Agricultural Workers, Fish Workers, Sanitary Workers, Village artists should also be brought under the Labour Department. A Separate Department with a Minister for Unorganised Workers should be created. Provision of Family card for agricultural workers should be stopped.
Through the State Unorganised Workers Welfare Boards (i)regulation of employment and wages, (ii)E.S.I health insurance, (iii)housing and crèches, (iv)just and fair pension scheme, (v)dispute resolution mechanisms, (vi)sexual harassment complaints committees, (vii)rights over resources should be implemented under the Tamilnadu Manual Workers Act.
R.Geetha
Unorganized Workers Federation,. Tamil Nadu