Team Herald
PANJIM: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) held a protest at Azad Maidan, pressing for its long pending demands such as scrapping and revoking the government’s anti-labour notification prohibiting strikes in pharma companies, issues of the people employed in various sectors in Goa and implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendation for panchayat employees among others.
AITUC General Secretary Christopher Fonseca pointed out that contract workers employed in Public Works Department (PWD) through PWD Labour Supply Society Limited continue to languish as contract workers denying them the benefits of regularisation, 300 workers employed in Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd have uncertain future, Goa State Co-operative Milk Producers' employees have not been paid their legal dues, workers and employees of Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) have not been paid their arrears of settlement while pre-primary helpers employed in the education department are paid pathetic and meagre salaries.
He also pointed out that overtime wages and duty roaster of workmen ‘Flotilla Staff’ employed at River Navigation Department have not been resolved.
Advocate Suhas Naik claimed that there is no place for common man in the Union budget presented recently by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“As per the proposals there will be no income tax up to Rs 12 lakh, but the question is how many youth today are earning Rs 12 lakh per annum. One has to earn Rs one lakh per month to get Rs 12 lakh per year. This is for those belonging to the creamy layer of the society. Even provisions for health and education too have been reduced in this budget,” he said.
“Demands of KTCL workers are still pending. They have not been paid the arrears of the 7th Pay Commission. Services of drivers and conductors who have worked continuously for two years are yet to be regularised. Issues related to Provident Fund are not resolved. Similarly, those working in the River Navigation Department (RND) have not been paid for working overtime,” he said.
“ESMA has been imposed for private pharmaceutical manufacturing company employees but ESMA is for public utility service not for private companies. Public utility means departments like education, health, electricity and water,” he said. He asked, “Why has ESMA been imposed when the companies are producing medicines and sold in European markets for profits?”
“These companies are in the business for profits. Therefore, it is our firm demand that ESMA should not be imposed in the pharma sector and must be withdrawn immediately,” he demanded.