Trade unions in western districts protest increased duty hours for workers

The protests were organised at multiple places by members of AITUC, CITU, INTUC and other organisations across the district. They wore black badges during the protest.

The massive protests come in the wake of exporters association in Tirupur district urging the state government to extend working hours to 12 hours. In a memorandum to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Apparel Export Promotion Council (APEC) said that states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab have made certain amendments to Factories Act to allow workers to work for extended hours.

“This will help in tackling labour shortage due to exodus of migrant workers and to ensure social distancing at work place,” said APEC chairman A Sakthivel.

Besides protesting against extending working hours, the trade unions also urged the government to provide a relief compensation of Rs 7,500 per month to labourers who have registered with the welfare board. The labourers, who have become jobless are also facing issues of rising cost of essentials due to lock down.

In Coimbatore, Member of Parliament PR Natarajan led a protest in front of CPM party office in Gandhipuram area. He condemned the Union government’s decision to privatise public sector undertakings and sought immediate relief to migrant workers.

In Valparai, former CPI MLA M Arumugam led the protest and urged the Union government not to accept demands of the industrial sector to increase the working hours to 12.

Meanwhile, trade unions in Tiruchy international airport has decided to organise a series of protests condemning the privatisation of the profitable airport. Reacting to the announcement of the Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Puri, who said that there is a proposal of privatisation of six more airports including Tiruchy, the trade unions here started to revolt. “The Minister just has announced, but there are so many processes, including floating of tender only then, there will be clear picture about the condition of employees in the airport,” said, Tiruchy Airport Employees Union Secretary Yuvaraj.