Trade union forum seeks universal social security for workers

New Delhi: Blaming successive governments for undertaking economic and labour reforms hostile to workers, a joint forum of central trade unions (CTUs) on Monday demanded universal social security coverage for every worker and that all contract workers be made permanent.

The Confederation of Central Trade Unions (CONCENT) comprising the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) and National Federation of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU), at its national convention here resolved to fight against the government's moves to privatise railways, defence establishment, banks and ports.

"Universal social security coverage should be provided to each and every worker under Employees' State Insurance Corp (ESIC) and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, (EPFO). Scheme workers like Angadwadi Asha, mid-day meal should be declared as government employees and until then be provided minimum wages of Rs 18,000," BMS President C.K. Saji Narayanan told the convention here.

The charter of demands signed by the representatives of the four CTUs include making all contract workers permanent, strongly implementing all labour laws and raising minimum wages for all categories to Rs 18,000 per month throughout the country.

"In the name of simplification and codification, existing rights of workers should not be snatched. The burning issues of sectors like railways, coal, defence, banks, ports, airports, electricity, tea and other plantations should be taken up separately by the concerned ministry," they said in the charter of demands.

They also demanded labour and farmers representation in NITI Aayog.