CWFI will
place their memorundum before Labour Minister
& Overseas Minister at New Delhi Jantar
Mantar on 26.09.08
Memorundum given
below:
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) (Debanjan
Chakrabarti)
President 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.
I . 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-
1. 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.
2. Issue of smart cards to all Indian Migrant
Workers to give them all legal protection
and to stop illegal migration.
3. The list of RAs to be checked up every
6 months after to stop entry of unscruplous
RAs.
4. 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.
5. GOT should bring out a handbook for prospective
investment in states with all detailed schemes
and benefits for the overseas Indian investors.
6. 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.
(Debanjan Chakrabarti)(R.
Singaravelu)
General Secretary
President
Nation Wide Strike of Construction Workers on 8th December 2009
EXTEND SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OF INDIA
At the call of “Construction Workers Federation of India” thousands of construction workers are going to observe one day NATIONAL STRIKE on 8th December,2009 on the following ten points :-
Our Demands
1. Implement ‘The Building and Other Construction Workers’(Regulation of Employment and Condition of Service)Act.1996 in ali the states and U.T .S as earl as possible.
2. Ensure Rastrya Swasthya Bima Yoyona (RSBY) for all the Construction Workers as per the Govt. of India declaration.
3. Withdraw Govt. of India order to allow 100% FDI in Housing Sector to protect the Indian Construction Companies.
4. Central Govt. and State Govt. have to allocate more funds in their respective Annual Budget for infrastructural development work to ensure sustained development and continious employment of construction workers.
5. Govt. of India must declare reduction of all construction materials like-steel, cement, bricks, stonechips, paints, electrical and sanitary items, construction plant and machineries to ensure more developmental work and housing for the poor.
6. Implement The Inter-State Migrant Workmen’s (Regulation of Employment and conditions of services)Act.1979 to protect the lakhs of inter state migrant worker’s from merciless exploitation.
7. Govt. of India must take initiative to release 3846 arrested migrant workers from the jails of 11 different countries immediately.
8. Ensure Housing as fundamental right .
9. Amend suitably the Central Social Security Act. For unorganized sector workers and allocate required fund for extending social security benefits and implement the same at the earliest.
10. All the construction workers have to be convert under BPL by revising it’s present basis.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
More than 7 lakhs Construction Workers participated in National Strike on 08.12.2009
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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 |
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