AAPWU demands welfare measures for working class

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, July 22: Claiming that labourers and working class of the state have no security of services and at the same time are not getting the benefits entitled, the All Aruchal Pradesh Workers’ Union (AAPWU) has demanded the state government to introduce/implement various welfare schemes for the greater interest of the working class.

Putting across a long list of demands in a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, AAPWU president Jalley Som said that the new government led by the young chief minister should work for the welfare of the working class like his late father did.

Informing that for enhancement of labour wages the union had already placed representations to the previous government led by former chief minister Kalikho Pul, the union also urged upon the new government to look into its other demands at the earliest. The AAPWU demanded for inclusion of revision wages on the basis of seniority, qualification, regularization of casual/contingency workers by creating adequate ‘C’ & ‘D’ posts, enhancement of grade pay of ITI Diploma holder/meter reader, formation of labour co-operative federation in the state and abolition of muster role system from various government departments.

Stating that many bogus labourers were detected in various departments, the union also sought permission for head counting of contingency and casual workers under various departments.

The union on the occasion also demanded for immediate release of adhoc-bonus for the year 2010-11, full consideration of appointment of successors of deceased employees on compassiote ground, regularization or providing voluntarily scheme to the ALCs, timely conduction of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) and compulsory induction of trade union leaders in the committee for transparency, preparation of recruitment rules, regularization of APB&OCWWB employees and enhancement of their salaries, allocation of fund in the AOP for labourers and employment department and discontinuation of ex-officio officials from APB&OCWWB.

Further, claiming that despite assurance from former chief minister bam Tuki to increase the welfare benefit schemes of APB&OCWWB during a mega awareness rally at IG Park in 2013, nothing has been done till date, AAPWU appealed for immediate steps to increase the welfare benefits of workers through the board.

The Union also stressed on granting of maternity leave for women workers which was a long pending demand. It demanded the government to consider all the women contingency/aganwadi workers and helpers a minimum of six months leave on maternity grounds.

Stating that due to absence of community hall/labour guest house and bachelor barracks the working class people have to face lots of inconvenience, the union demanded for construction of community hall/labour guest house and bachelor barracks in all the district headquarters.

Other demands included in the memorandum were relaxation of water and electricity bills for workers, retention of workers under sanitation/urban department, establishment of three labour welfare boards in the state.