GUWAHATI, Aug 29 - The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has extended its support to the nationwide general strike called by trade unions and employees� federations on September 2 against the government�s �anti-worker� policies.
In a statement, AITUC Assam State Committee president Upen Talukdar said that preparations are on to make the strike a success in Assam, along with other parts of the country.
He said that since the past few years trade unions have been protesting against the Centre�s anti-labour policies and on the issues of price rise, unemployment, for enforcement of labour laws, privatisation, and minimum wage, among others. However, the previous UPA regime did not act, he said, adding that the Narendra Modi-led government has also failed to act for ensuring security of workers.
�In fact, the Modi government has only intensified corporatisation and attacks on workers� rights. It is attempting to amend labour laws to take away the rights of workers. It is making all efforts to privatise sectors like defence, railways, banking and insurance and retail trade and hand them over to big corporates,� said Talukdar.
He also said �The Central government is now also trying to take away the land of farmers and is refusing to take any steps for regularisation of large segments on employees, including Anganwadi workers. Central funding for social security schemes has been reduced. So all the trade unions and employees� groups have joined the general strike to force the government to give up its anti-worker policies,� Talukdar said.
He also said that the Assam government has also been adopting policies against interest of workers and employees.
