Labor unions and other labor organizations protested Tuesday in Raipur in a nationwide “National Demand Day” protest against alleged exploitation and suppression of unorganised workers in the country. There were demonstrations in several industrial areas such as Noida and Delhi-NCR, where unions called for the unconditional release of arrested workers, labour activists.
In Raipur, workers and employees then came together and gathered at Ambedkar Chowk, under the banner of a workers’ and employees’ union forum. The protestors shouted slogans against the growth of contractual labour, wages and working conditions as well as alleged harassment of labour unions.
Responding to the event, labour leaders pointed to workers in industrial zones like Noida, Gurgaon, Manesar and Faridabad facing greater violation of their health by being made to work for insignificant pay without adequate social security. They charged the government with focussing on non-substantive issues like arresting, intimidating and prosecuting worker and union activists.
These unions called for an eight-hour workday, eight-hour day on Sunday, equal pay and day care facilities for contract workers and withdrawal of the four labour codes in return for the demands of a minimum monthly wage of ₹26,000. The protesters also demanded the restoration of the previous regimes of labour law, workplace safety, overtime allowance and formalization of the temporary employees.
The union leaders also called on the government to commence negotiations with trade unions immediately to end the “anti-worker policies and illegal detentions”.