Retrenched workers to fill Goa jails
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 28 May 2013 17:18 IST
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and its other affiliated trade unions will hold Jail Bharo agitation on Thursday, 30 May in Panaji to protest against Goa government’s anti-labour policies.
The agitation would be held at Panaji bus stand Kranti circle at 9.30 am.
AITUC general secretary Christopher Fonseca today condemned the pro-management role played by chief minister Manohar Parrikar in deploying police force to guard management of Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd rather than protecting the retrenched workers.
Over 600 contract workers employed at ZACL have been retrenched illegally in spite of working for the last more than 25 to 35 years, in blatant violation of the statutory labour laws.
The ZACL management has brought in over 150 migrant labourers from neighbouring states to work inside the plant by terminating the services of the existing contract workmen, alleged Fonseca.
Fonseca also observed that attacks on working people in Goa are on rise with retrenchments, lay off and even factory closures without paying dues to workmen.
According to him, most of these contract workers are not even paid the statutory minimum wages.
He also noted that more than 40,000 mining workers are literally ‘dispossessed’ of their jobs.
The Government has no policy in place to protect and safeguard the scarce jobs and service of the poor workers, said the AITUC general secretary.
It is very sad that as stated by Christopher Fonseca, the tallest leader in Goa supporting the right causes of workers for years, over 600 contract workers employed at ZACL have been retrenched illegally in spite of working for the last more than 25 to 35 years, in blatant violation of the statutory labour laws and 150 migrant labourers from neighbouring states brought in.
What is the use of labour laws if such retrenchments can be done?
Why other politicians are not supporting the cause of the retrenched workers?