Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 4: Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) activists today staged a protest demonstration against brutal action of the police on the workers employed with M/s Vencer Constrution Pvt. Ltd which is carrying out the construction of about ten Kilometers Railway tunnel at Khanikote of Tehsil Arnas of District Reasi.
Hundreds of workers from different sectors were chanting slogans against police action and in support of demands of workers and land compensation of land owners acquired by the company.
While addressing the workers General Secretary of state CITU, Om Parkash said that since the inception of tunnel works company has continuously been violating all labour laws, such as no tunnel allowance, no project allowance, non-implementation of minimum wages, twelve hours working day, but no payment of overtime, EPF deducted from the wages of workers but not deposited with Provident Fund Commissioner office Udhampur, workers are not covered under ESI social security scheme, no safety measures, wages are not paid in time etc.
He said that our affiliated Katra - Banihal Workers Union submitted its demand notice on 16.05.2019 and besides other demands there was an agreement of 20% tunnel allowance as per central government notification which was held on 03.06.2019 in the office of Regional Labour Commissuiner (C)- Jammu but agreement has not been implement till date.
Further, he added that continue violation of labour laws and agreement created a resentment among the workers and union decided to go on strike but worthy District Development Commissioner constitute a committee to intervene and to bring both the union and management on the negotiation table and there was an agreement on 9th of Nov. but the management of the company further violate the agreement and categorically refused to implement. It was also agreed that there will be three shifts of 8 hours duty each with weekly off but surprisingly on Sunday (01.12.2019) during night the management of company with police party came at workers colony brutally thrash and hijack two workers who are union's leaders, till date there are not come to their home, he said. There is a fear among the workers that caused complete strike at the workplace, he said.
Sr. leader of CITU, Sham Prasad Kesar said that maximum land of Khanikote villagers acquired by the company but even after a lapse of four years period no compensation paid to the villagers besides there was a water canal the single source for irrigation of land which is completed damaged due to acquisition of land by company, the peasants are the worsted sufferers, he demanded adequate compensation to the villagers immediately.
Other spoke on this occasion Muzaffar Wani, Vice President, Jia Lal Parihar, Jagdish Sharma, Secretaries of State CITU Nishad Kazi, Sewa Ram & Kishore Kumar leaders of J&K Kisan Tehrik . |
