PANJIM: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Goa State Committee has cancelled its May Day rally in the city in view of sudden spike in COVID-19 casers and instead the workers will celebrate May Day at their respective factories/industries by maintaining all norms of COVID-19 protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference, here, on Thursday, AITUC State General Secretary Christopher Fonseca said, “AITUC is firmly committed to the cause of the working class. While fighting for our own demands for better living and working conditions, we are determined to liberate all the toiling people in the society from the `exploiting class’.
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Fonseca alleged that ever since the BJP-led NDA government regained power in 2019, a massive attack has been launched by the government to dilute and suppress the rights of the working people. The present ruling dispensation in snatching away from the toiling people what the Constitution assured them.
The AITUC general secretary charged that the permanency of employment is being replaced by the Fixed Term Employment (FTS) and the right to strike and right to form unions are under attack through new industrial relation code. The Union government has also done away with tripartite consultations by not holding the Indian Labour Conferences (ILC) since 2015.
On the occasion of the 131st International Workers Day, the AITUC has made 16-point charter of demands including revision of minimum wages for all schedules of employment at Rs 21,000 per month to unskilled workers from May 1, 2021; regularisation of services of all contract workers working in all perennial and permanent job operations in government and private establishments and to ensure minimum pension of Rs 6,000 per month to all people.
The AITUC has also demanded to start mining activities in the State in a sustainable manner and to ensure benefit of mining to all stakeholders and the people of Goa by forming State-owned Mining Corporation.
It has also demanded reduction in fuel prices and to implement universal social security cover to all organised and unorganised workers. Fonseca said that the 16-point charter of demands of May Day will be submitted to the government.
AITUC Deputy General Secretary R D Mangueshkar and Secretary Suhaas Naik were also present for press briefing.
