Srinagar: A daylong conference of the Kashmir Constructional Workers Union was held at Srinagar on Tuesday which was attended by hundreds of delegates from across the Kashmir region.
The conference was inaugurated by A R Pandit.
The conference expressed serious concerns over the plight of construction workers in the region. Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami, State President Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) greeted the conference
While addressing the conference, the National President Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI) Sukhbir Singh lamented the central government for anti-people and anti-worker policies. “The BJP government has imposed four labour codes to deny the basic rights of minimum wage, right to work for 8 hours and negate the pension and gratuity to the majority of the working class. Hard-earned rights of the labour class are being reversed through repressive measures.”
He said that only united struggles are the way forward to compel the government to concede the genuine demands of the working class.
While addressing the conference, Mohmad Yousuf Tarigami, State President Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) J&K said that the BJP-led government is trying to erode whatever achievement has been made by the working class. “Whatever has been left is being snatched away from them. Harsh measures are being taken against the working class across the country instead of addressing their issues. The policies pursued by the BJP-led government have resulted in job loss and attacks on the livelihood of common people have increased.”
“The government is trying to promote such issues which create communal division among people. The working class has tremendous tasks in these challenging times to continue building broader possible unity to defend their natural resources and national assets. Job loss continues with many establishments, closed down and technology also eating up many jobs,” said Tarigami.
“The labour codes were passed in Parliament without discussion and without the laid procedures. Union activities are dubbed as anti-national. People are harassed. United struggles are the only way to resist the onslaught of the anti-labour policies of the BJP government,” he added.
The conference adopted several resolutions which include the resolution condemning the killing of migrant workers, implementation of Labour Laws, Minimum Wages Act, simplifying the process of registration of workers,re-starting the marriage assistance scheme, providing of pension, redressal of burning issues confronting the working class, and strictly implementation of public service guarantee act.
The conference elected Ab Rashid Pandit as President, Pervaiz Ahmad Kuchay of Ganderbal and Ashaq Hussain Kupwara as Vice-Presidents, Javid Ahmad Ganie as General Secretary and Fayaz Ahmad Bhat as Treasurer of the new executive body.
