Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 28: Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) held its two-day state working committee meeting at Jyoti Puram in Reasi district on May 28, 2023. The meeting, chaired by BMS State Working President. Harbans Choudhary, was attended by Pawan Kumar JUtter Shetra Sangathan Matri BMS. The key focus of the meeting was to discuss and review the functioning of BMS at the district level and address the pressing issues concerning the working class.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that the government has shown a lack of seriousness towards the welfare of workers. Statutory boards constituted under various labor laws, such as the Contract Labour Advisory Board, Unorganized Workers Welfare Board, ESI Regional Board, and PF Board, have not been active for several years. As a result, workers, especially those contributing to ESI and EPF, are facing significant hardships. Additionally, workers in central spheres, including MES and security agencies, are not receiving minimum wages as mandated by law. Exploitation of workers, including the absence of overtime payment despite working 12-hour shifts, has been met with silence from labor officials.
Pawan Kumar Ji emphasized the need to expand BMS's work in the unorganized sector specifically. In the meeting, three resolutions were passed by the State BMS:BMS called upon the state government to establish a welfare board for workers in the private transport sector, such as drivers, conductors, motor mechanics, and other allied workers. They proposed levying a 1% cess on new vehicles during registration to generate funds for the welfare of manpower engaged in the private transport sector, similar to the Jammu Kashmir Building and Other Constructions Workers Welfare Board (KBOCWWB).BMS demanded the implementation of Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) in Jammu and Kashmir, as the revision of minimum wages after a gap of 4-5 years has rendered the face value of minimum wages irrelevant. In neighboring states, DA is revised every six months. BMS urged the government to implement VDA to provide some protection against inflation and called for the inclusion of an annual increment provision.The BMS highlighted the need to provide retirement benefits to unilaterally disengaged Anganwadi workers and helpers and called for an increase in their honorarium and UT/share in line with other states/UTs.
The two-day meeting saw the presence of Neelam Sharma (State General Secretary), Chanan Singh Toor (Finance Secretary), Ashok Choudhary (Sangathan Mantri), Dev Parkash, Mukesh Kumar, Anil Kumar, Rohit Seth, Chuni Lal, Suresh Raina, Subash Chander, Om Parkash, Veer Singh, Parshotam Kumar, Anil Verma, Mahesh Singh, and Bodh Raj. |
