Manipal: The Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI) affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a protest in front of the DC office Rajathadri Manipal on June 17 seeking fulfilment of their various demands including monthly pension and opposing the diversion of funds allocated to the Construction Welfare Board.
CITU leader Vishwanath Rai addressing the protesters said that both the Union and State Government have failed to protect the interest of the working class despite introducing laws for labour protection.
The families of construction labourers have been deprived of the benefits available for construction workers across the State owing to the lack of proactive efforts from the Government to register construction workers in the Board. The State Government has been collecting one percent of the total cost of construction as cess from the employer, the Government has failed to utilise the amount for the welfare of construction labourers, he said.
Later protesters submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India and Chief Minister of Karnataka through the deputy commissioner of Udupi district.
The demands also include scholarship, marriage assistance, health benefits, loan for house construction and monthly pension. The government should fix a monthly pension for labourers at Rs 3,000 a month, and fix the retirement age at 55 for women labourers and others.
Shekar B Bangera, H Vittal Poojary, Laxman K, Rama Karkada, Vidyaraj, Kaviraj, DayanandaBangera, Godwin Fernandes and others were present.