Construction and building workers in Coimbatore, under the joint banner of the All India Building and Construction Workers' Federation and Tamil Nadu AITUC Construction Workers Union, organized a nationwide protest on February 29, 2024, to submit a petition demanding various social and legal benefits.
Coimbatore: A significant protest was held in Coimbatore by the Construction and Building Workers' Union to emphasize their demands for better social and legal benefits. This event, jointly organized by the All India Building and Construction Workers' Federation and the Tamil Nadu AITUC Construction Workers Union, took place on the morning of February 29, 2024, near the Coimbatore Central Telegraph Office.
The protest, led by R. Balakrishnan, the State Deputy President of the Construction Workers Union, aimed to highlight the challenges faced by over ten million construction and building workers across India. The demonstrators submitted a petition outlining eleven specific demands to safeguard their welfare and rights.
Among the key demands were the insistence on the continuance of the 1996 Construction Workers Central Law and the Central Welfare Fund Collection Law as separate entities, without any amalgamation into other codes or statutes. They called for an increase in the welfare fund contribution to 5%, timely and direct collection of these funds, and a monthly pension of Rs. 6,000 for workers aged 60 and above.
Furthermore, the protesters demanded representation for union representatives, particularly from the AICBCW and Tamil Nadu AITUC, in administrative bodies governing their welfare. They also highlighted the urgent need for immediate implementation of ESI medical insurance for all construction workers and the provision of EPF benefits, advocating for equal pay for equal work.
The petition underscored the alarming rate of accidents at construction sites across the country, resulting in numerous worker casualties and injuries, pointing out the lack of adequate medical assistance and insurance coverage for the workers. They also demanded a Diwali bonus of Rs. 5,000 for all construction workers nationwide, similar to the practice in Puducherry.
The protest received support and commendation from various union leaders, including C. Thangavel, the AITUC District General Secretary, and L. Selvam, the District General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu AITUC Construction Workers Union. Dignitaries such as Kalappatti Selvaraj, the District Honorary President, and several others expressed their solidarity with the workers' cause, marking a significant step towards acknowledging and addressing the concerns of construction workers in India.
The protest, led by R. Balakrishnan, the State Deputy President of the Construction Workers Union, aimed to highlight the challenges faced by over ten million construction and building workers across India. The demonstrators submitted a petition outlining eleven specific demands to safeguard their welfare and rights.
Among the key demands were the insistence on the continuance of the 1996 Construction Workers Central Law and the Central Welfare Fund Collection Law as separate entities, without any amalgamation into other codes or statutes. They called for an increase in the welfare fund contribution to 5%, timely and direct collection of these funds, and a monthly pension of Rs. 6,000 for workers aged 60 and above.
Furthermore, the protesters demanded representation for union representatives, particularly from the AICBCW and Tamil Nadu AITUC, in administrative bodies governing their welfare. They also highlighted the urgent need for immediate implementation of ESI medical insurance for all construction workers and the provision of EPF benefits, advocating for equal pay for equal work.
The petition underscored the alarming rate of accidents at construction sites across the country, resulting in numerous worker casualties and injuries, pointing out the lack of adequate medical assistance and insurance coverage for the workers. They also demanded a Diwali bonus of Rs. 5,000 for all construction workers nationwide, similar to the practice in Puducherry.
The protest received support and commendation from various union leaders, including C. Thangavel, the AITUC District General Secretary, and L. Selvam, the District General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu AITUC Construction Workers Union. Dignitaries such as Kalappatti Selvaraj, the District Honorary President, and several others expressed their solidarity with the workers' cause, marking a significant step towards acknowledging and addressing the concerns of construction workers in India.