The Minister-in-Charge
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment Shram Shakti Bhawan,
Rafi Marg,
New Delhi-110001

Sub : Implementation Of Central Act & Rules framed for Construction Workers Welfare in States & Union Territories.

Dear Sir,

On behalf of our National Federation we like to draw your attention to the following demands of construction workers of our country -

1. a. Implemen ation of Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation of employment and conditions of service) Act 1996 and Central Rules 1998 Welfare Cess Act. 1996 along with the Rules in all the states and Union Territories before the end of 2008.

[Note: At present construction workers welfare board is functioning in-1. Kerala (12.3.1999), 2. MP (2.3.2001), 3. WB (27.5.2005), 4. Tripura (8.2.2007), 5. Haryana (9.4.2007), 6. Pondicherry (2005), 7. AP (25.8.99), 8. Arunachal Pradesh (26.4.05), 9. Gujrat (3.1.05), 10. J&K (15.1.2007), 11. Karnataka (18.1.2007), 12. Orissa (11.2.04), 13. Uttarakhand (constituted), 14. Maharastra (notified only), 15. Uttar Pradesh (notified only), 16. Assam (notified only), 17. In Tamilnadu Welfare Board is functioning under the Tamilnadu Manual Workers Act 1982. Tamilnadu also must switch over to central Act. implementation.

b. Implementation of 'Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Cess Act 1996 in all the States & UTs. before the end of 2008 by framing state rules.

[Note: Within last 10 years construction workers welfare board set up in 13 states only. But cess collection is not being done properly. Specially from the Central Govt. departments, Railways, Defence, Telecommunication sector cess are not being collected properly. The Central Govt departments are also not eager to deposit cess as per State/UTs Cess Rules. This vital issue of cess collection to give benefits to the millions of construction workers must be looked into.]

2. Ensure proper implementation of 'Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and conditions of service) Act 1979.
Lakhs of construction workers those who are migrating from one state to another, practically they have no legal protection. GUI have to pay due attention to implement this Act seriously.

3. Ensure proper implementation of 'Immigration Act 1983' to protect Indian migrant workers working in other countries.

4. Amend the All India Act 1996 in such a manner so as to collect cess for residential buildings below the cost of Rs. 10 lakh also.

5. Reduce the prices of all construction materials including steel and cement to ensure sustained development work and to avoid cost escalation of Govt. Projects.

6. Housing for all the construction workers have to be ensured through construction workers welfare board or other suitable agencies.

7. Ensure equal wage for equal work for male and female construction workers.

8. Pension for Female construction workers to be paid at the age of 50 years through state construction labour welfare board.

9. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 to be implemented in projects works.

10. Skill upgradation training for both men and women in construction industry to be ensured.

11. Free house sites with pattas ( legal rights) for working women in construction industry to be given.

We hope, you will intervene soon and take positive steps to the fullfil just demands of toiling construction workers problems.

Thanking you

Fraternally yours,

R. Singaravelu, President

Debanjan Chakrabarti, General Secretary

Dated : 26.09.08

The Minister-in-Charge
Government of India
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
New Delhi

Sub : Inter-Country Migrant Workers Problems.

Dear Sir,

You are aware that more than 5 millions (50 lakhs) of Indian workers are working in 133 countries of the World. Their annual remittances into India are estimated more than 15 billion US $ (63000 crores of Rupees). But a good numbers of workers are facing different problems in different countries. We like to draw your attention to the following problems of Indian migrant workers for solution.

1. National wage of the receiving countries for the particular industry or profession are not being paid to Indian Migrants in all most all receiving countries.

2. Existing social security benefits of the receiving countries are not being extended to the Indian Migrants barring a few.

3. Promised standard of accomodation to the Indian Migrants are not being provided by the companies of the receiving countries.

4. Minimum Medical facilities are not extended to the migrant workers.

5. Where migrants are allowed to take their family members, the education of their children is also a big problem.

6. Unscrupulous activities of the placement agencies of both receiving and sending countries increase day by day.

7. A large section of migrant workers have to work more than 8 hours a day without extra wages.

8. Role of Indian Embassy/Consulate Office in different countries require more cooperative attitude to protect the Indian migrant workers when they fall in troubles.

9. As on I 7th may 2007 more than 4000 Indian migrant workers are in jail in 11 countries. But there is no effort on the part of GOI to release them from the jail and send back to our country.

10. Working women as migrant workers frequently suffer as victims of body shopping trade.

Under this situation we demand -

i. Stop massive exploitation of prospective emigrants by spurious Recruiting Agents (RAs). The Emigration Act 1983 to be amended immediately by inserting provisions to give massive punishment to spurious RAs.

ii. Issue of smart cards to all Indian Migrant Workers to give them all legal protection and to stop illegal migration.

iii. The list of RAs to be checked up every 6 months after to stop entry of unscruplous RAs.

iv. Proper Implementation and extention of coverage for all Indian Migrant Workers under Travasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana 2006' to get minimum coverage of Rs 5 lakhs.

v. GOT should bring out a handbook for prospective investment in states with all detailed schemes and benefits for the overseas Indian investors.

vi. Stop fraudulent marriages of Indian women with NRI's, GOI must bring out a guidance booklet on marriages with overseas Indians and distribute widely in India and other countries.

Finally we like to request you to convene a national seminar on the issue of Indian Migrant Labours working in other countries to discuss and finalise a programme of action to protect them from any problems they face in receiving countries. A national level tripartite committee may also be set up to look into this affairs in a sustained manner.

Thanking you,

Fraternally yours.

R. Singaravelu, President

Debanjan Chakrabarti, General Secretary

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

More than 7 lakhs Construction Workers participated in National Strike on 08.12.2009

For the first time after independence of our country at the call of ‘Construction Workers Federation of India’(CWFI) the more than 7l akhs Construction Workers observed one day all India strike on 8th December, 2009.

The strike has been observed 175 districts of 19 States and in more than 50 big Construction Projects.

Andhra Pradesh : More than one lakh construction workers observed strike in 15 districts . Workers in thousands hold rallies, meeting, procession in different districts. In some construction projects strike is successful.

Tamilnadu : Thousands construction workers go on strike in a big way in 34 districts. The workers hold rallies, procession in some places.At the call of CPI(M) and CPI on 07.12.2009 thousands construction workers in different districts have been court arrested on the demand of reduction of Prices of Essential goods.

Karnataka : In 22 districts of the State more than 50,000 construction workers participated in strike.In some places well decorated procession took place. In some district this strike leads to a BANDH.

Kerala : Before each districts Collectorate Office more than 3 lakhs workers assembled,agitated and submitted memorandum to the Central Government on 10 point demands. On 18.11.2009 the Kerala Construction Workers observe one day token strike on the same demands and some State demands.Pondichery:In some places construction workers took part in strike.

Jammu & Kashmir: In the Baglear and Sewa Hydro-Electric Construction Project 5 thousands workers observed half a day strike.

Punjab : In 11 districts more than 50,000 construction workers join the strike. Self employment migrant workers in Punjab took a lead for making the strike success. In some places big workers rally and procession took place.

Himachal Pradesh : In six districts in all the 15 Hydro-Electric Projects construction work was totally stopped. All the workers came out of the Projects and hold meetings.At Shimla self employed construction workers goes on strike. In many places workers hold meetings.Haryana:In 8 districts more than 25 thousands Construction Workers came out on the street to bserve strike successfully. In 23 places 11,500 workers sit on DHARNA programme.

Rajasthan : In 5 big construction projects strike took place.In 2 districts self employed construction workers join the strike.Delhi:In East Delhi area strike took place.

Maharastra : In 5 districts self employed construction workers joined the strike hold rallies and procession on the demands.

Chhattisgarh : Due to strict order of District Police Administration the Construction Workers of BALCO Project did not go for strike but they hold protest meeting at the gate of BALCO, Korba. In this site on 23.09.2009, 230 mt. hight Chimney collapsed and caused death of 40 construction workers. Still now 800 construction workers did not get job in the projects. The workers are agitating in a DHARNA in front of BALCO gate.

Assam : In 16 districts both projects workers and self employed construction workers participated in strike. In 18 places workers took up procession. In the capital city (DISHPUR) of Assam construction workers held DHARNA programme. A memorandum of 10 point demands has been submitted before the Chief Minister of Assam by MLA Ananta Deka and Construction State Secretary Tapan Sarma.

Tripura : In all 4 districts in all the Sub-Division the self employed construction workers join the strike. They hold procession, meeting in some places.

Manipur: In some village area self employed construction workers join the strike. All Manipur construction workers submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur, highlighting the 10 point demands.

Bihar : Self employed construction workers joined strike in 10 districts. They hold rallies in some districts too. 100 – 500 construction workers hold procession in 10 districts.

Orissa : More than 15 thousands self employed construction workers in 12 districts joined in the strike. Some projects construction workers also joined strike. On strike day in 12 districts construction workers hold meetings in front of Labour Commissioner Office. At Bhubaneswar 700 workers court arrested and other places more than 2000 workers court arrested.

West Benga l: In all the 19 districts about 3 lakh construction workers joined the strike. In all the Central and State Projects construction work was stopped.

It will be relevant to mention here that a 6 members delegation of CWFI meet Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge Labour Minister (GOI) and Mr. Vailar Ravi, Minister for overseas Indian affairs under the leadership of Mr. Md. Amin, M.P., General Secretary –CITU and Mr. Tapan Sen M. P.

Labour Minister assured the delegation to call Labour Ministers Meeting on 22.01.2010 to discuss the implementation of Construction Workers welfare scheme in the states. He also mentioned that one man committee has been formed by GOI to prepare a Social Security Scheme for unorganized Sectors within 3 months time. A committee also is working on the revision of BPL basis. Soon this report will come in the light.

Mr. Vilar Ravi told the delegation that the GOI is doing there best to release 3846 migrant Indian labour from the jails of 11 Countries. Some workers have already been released from the jail of Dubai and Katar. The Minister assured the delegation to call a meeting all Central Trade Unions to discuss the problems of Indian Migrant workers abroad.

Today during zero hour in the floor of Loksabha Mr. Basudeb Acharia M.P. –CPI(M), raised the 10 point demands on the construction workers to bring attention of the GOI for necessary intervention to concede the demands of the striking workers.

On the behalf of the All India Federation Mr. Debanjan Chakrabarti, General Secretary, congratulated million of Construction workers for their massive participation in today strike.

(Debanjan Chakrabarti)

General Secretary

3rd October 2011 Ovservance in india by CWFI

At the call of WFTU the 3rd October 2011 the International Action Day observed by CWFI affiliated Unions in several States in India. In some places construction unions / workers joined CITU convened programmes.

ASSAM: The day was observed by workers procession and meeting in different places – at Hauli, Kalagachi, Sarbhog, Manakochi, Bagali – at Barpeta District. 200-1500 workers participated in each places.

At Guwahati this day was observed by holding workers meeting. Comrade Tapan Sharma, Secretary, CWFI, Abdul Karim Bhuian, working committee member, CWFI and other leaders addressed the gathering in different places.

BIHAR : The day was observed by CWFI unions. The meeting and procession took place at Mazaffarpur, Bhojpur, Patna.

ORISSA : On 03.10.2011 a workers procession was organized by CWFI from Rajmal Square at Bhubaneswar. After the procession, meeting held. The meeting was addressed by CWFI leaders Suresh Routh Roy, Naba Mahanti, and CITU leaders Shibaji Patnayak. At Rourkela – such programme also held. Comrade Biman Maity, CWFI leader addressed the gathering.

CHATTISGARH : At Korba, one industrial town the day was observed by CWFI union by holding workers meeting. Comrade A. K. Ansari, CWFI leader spoke in the meeting.

TRIPURA : The day was observed jointly by CWFI unions in all sub-division of the State. The workers meeting, procession, held in each sub-division.

PUNJAB : On the day CITU and other Central Trade Unions jointly hold rally on the demand of Minimum wage and Trade Union rights and social security for unorganized sector workers at different places. A good number of construction workers participated in these demonstration. Comrade Vijay Mishra, Vice-President, CWFI addressed the workers rally.

KARNATAKA  : The day was observed by CITU in all most all districts by holding procession, rallies, meeting etc. In every spot construction workers participated in good number. Comrade Veeraswamy, Vice-President, CWFI addressed one of such gathering at Bangalore.

TAMILANDU : Due to Panchayet election the said programme could not be organized in all the places. But in some districts CITU organized meeting and construction workers joined there.

JAMMU & KASHMIR : The day was observed by holding meeting of workers at Kinani Project ( Udhampur) by construction workers and at R. S. Pura ( Jammu) construction workers and others of CITU union. Members observe the day by holding meeting.

RAJASTHAN : CITU hold meeting, procession at Hunumangar, Ajitgar, Shikar, Jodhpur, Udaypur, Bharatpur, Jhunjhuna and Cheru, Dungarpur, Kota, Bikanir. In the last 4 spots construction workers were more in number.

HARYANA : The day was observed by Construction Workers Unions with CITU in the whole state by holding meeting etc.

MANIPUR : At the initiative of CWFI an workers meeting held at Imphal, Manipur on 03.10.2011. More than 200 workers were present in the meeting. The meeting was addressed by Comrade Debanjan Chakrabarti, Comrade Santa and AITUC leader ( Manipur State President), INTUC leader ( Manipur State President), TUCC leader ( TUCC State President).

WEST BENGAL: The day was observed in some districts by holding workers meeting. In spite of Durga Puja Festival workers meeting held at Kolkata –at CITU Kolkata District Committee Hall, Comrade Tapan Sen addressed the gathering. Comrade Rajdeo Goala presided over the meeting. A good number of Construction workers attended this meeting.

In Jalpaiguri District – at Banarhat, Metheli, Dhupguri – workers meeting held. Comrade Trisna Barua, Working Committee Member, CWFI addressed the meeting.

International ActionDay observed  in Imphal

Comrade DebanjanChakrabarti Gen Secretary Trade Union International of Building ,Wood and Building Materials Industries Workers’(UITBB) affiliated to World Federation of Trade Union attended.

The Al lManipur Construction Workers Union (CITU) observed the International action day At ChangangeiBazar,a working concentrated area of Imphal on the 66th foundation day of World federation of trade Unions (WFTU) which was founded on 3rd Oct. 1945 after the second world war at Paris ,France . The international action was attended by Comrade DebanjanChakrabarti Gen Secretary Trade Union International of building ,wood and building Materials industries workers’(UITBB),he is also Vice president of WFTU and Gen.Secratary construction workers federation of India.ComradeKshetrimayum Santa , Gen Secy. All manipur construction workers Union , Dr.M.Nara President , AITUC , YumnamRanapratap Gen Secy, INTUC Manipur ,Kh.Gyaneshor ,President TUCC, Manipur, W.iboyaima Singh Regional Director ,Centre board of workers education ,Imphal,SinamLukhoi Singh President Changangei GP Buildingand Construction Workers Union and YumamRomola Devi President All Manipur Democratic Women’s Association. Comrade Santa gave the key note address of the function and he mention that the working class movement in manipur was strengthen after the formation of state unit of CWFI in 2006. After that the building and construction workers welfare board was formed and functioning since 2010.he express that the international action day was observed with the demands of public social security for all , collecting bargaining and collective agreement ,trade union and democratic rights, 35 hours of work-7 hours per day - 5 days of working weeks,better wages , solidarity with Palestinian people ,freedom to Cuban five .Comrade DebanjanChakrabarti, in brief he narrated the importance of the WFTU foundation day . this international day is being observed in the 120 countries by 210 organisationshaving membership 78 millions. He referred the present LPG policy of Govt. of India ,how it is effecting the Indian working class and its trade union rights and collecting bargaining. He also mention that the Govt. of India is giving lip service only for the informal sector workers without doing anything concrete. He urged the Manipur working class along with Indian working class and world as whole will jointly fight against this neo liberal policy to ensurethe existing trade union rights and other social security benefits. The function was attended by delegates from CITU affiliated Unions from Four districts of Manipur.

Kshetrimayum Santa

Date 3rd October 2011
Place : Imphal