Chamba hydel project workers protest against ‘anti-labour’ laws
Contract and outsourced workers from various hydropower projects including National Hydro Power Corporation projects, under the banner of Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a sit-in, raising their voice against the new labour codes and unmet demands.
The protest followed a month-long campaign, running from September 1 to September 30, during which the CITU activists spread awareness about the government’s ‘anti-worker’ policies among various sections of outsourced labour.
Protests were held at six locations in Chamba, including NHPC’s Baira Siul Project, Chamera I, II, and III Projects, and the Kuthed Project witnessing participations of hundreds of workers.
The protesting workers, including outsourced, casual, multi-task, and fixed-term employees, are demanding that the government repeal these anti-worker laws. They are seeking fair wages, social security, pensions, gratuity, leave entitlements, medical benefits, ESI, EPF, bonuses, and overtime pay. They also demanded that a permanent policy be created for workers, ensuring a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 in line with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. Additionally, they called for the regularisation of contract workers and timely salary disbursements before the 7th of each month.
Addressing the protestors, CITU general secretary Sudesh Thakur said that since 1990, the practice of ‘contractualisation’ and ‘casualisation’ has grown nationwide. Himachal Pradesh has blindly adopted these practices, he said, adding that over the past 10 years, the Modi government’s policies had further intensified this trend.
According to the 2015-16 survey by the Ministry of Labour, 67.8 pc of contract workers and 95.3 pc of casual workers in India do not have appointment letters. Additionally, 93 pc of casual workers lack social security.
Policy makers have bowed down to the interests of capitalists, and now even permanent institutions are employing workers on contracts. In public sector industries, contract workers, outsourced casual laborers, multi-task workers, and fixed-term employees receive lower wages than regular workers, said the protestors.
The Modi government has replaced 44 labour laws, that once protected the interests of workers’ with labour codes, giving employers the right to hire and fire employees at will. Under fixed-term contracts, workers can be dismissed without notice once their contract period ends, which can last as short as six months to a year. “Our protest is against these exploitative labor codes,” said Thakur.
If the government failed to address these demands, the protestors warned that the movement would escalate into a decisive struggle, he added.
Oppose new labour codes
- Protests were held at six locations in Chamba, including NHPC’s Baira Siul project, Chamera I, II, and III projects, and the Kuthed project witnessing participations of hundreds of workers
- The protesting workers, including outsourced, casual, multi-task, and fixed-term employees, are demanding that the government repeal ‘anti-worker’ laws
- They are seeking fair wages, social security, pensions, gratuity, leave entitlements, medical benefits, ESI, EPF, bonuses, and overtime pay
- They demanded that a permanent policy be created for workers, ensuring a minimum wage of ~26,000 in line with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations
