Srinagar: As part of nation-wide protests against the anti-worker destructive policies of the BJP government, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held protests across Jammu and Kashmir today.
The protests were held in Srinagar, Jammu, District Headquarters Kulgam, Anantnag, Bramulla, Kupwara, Kathua and other work places while maintaining social distancing norms. The protesters condemned the BJP government’s attacks on the basic workplace, democratic and constitutional rights of the workers and the people of the country, a statement issued by CITU said.
The charter of demands included cash transfer of Rs 7500 per month for all non-income tax paying families, 10 kg free ration per person per month to all needy, expansion of MGNREGA to provide 200 days’ work in a year in rural areas at enhanced wages, stopping privatisation, massive outsourcing, casualisation and contraturisations in Govt./PSUs, formulation of immediate wage and regularisation policies for all temporary workers like Casual, contract, Aaganwadi, ASHA and fixing the minimum wage not less than Rs 18000/pm till regularization and ensuring full democratic and Trade Union rights, revoking of decision to freeze the DA for Govt. employees and pensioners and filling all vacant posts in government departments, said the statement.
The protesters urged the government to withdraw all anti-farmer laws and anti-worker labour codes and stop privatisation of the public sector including the financial sector and stop corporatisation of government-run manufacturing and service entities like railways, ordinance factories, ports etc. They also stressed in their demand to withdraw the draconian circular on forced premature retirement of government and PSU employees after 22 years of service.
Besides, they demanded scrapping NPS (National Pension System) and restoration of earlier pension with improvement in EPS-95 (Employees’ Pension Scheme-1995 run by retirement fund body EPFO).
