DOOMDOOMA, May 12 - Responding to a call by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Tinsukia district committee of the organisation registered its protest against the recent �anti-labour� policy of the State government, on Monday.
The labourers along with CITU leaders took part in a protest programme in their respective work places and also in front of their residences across the district by following protocols associated with the lockdown. The protesters displayed placards and voiced their demands.
Advocate Tarini Deka, who is a member of the Tinsukia district committee of CITU and president of Tinsukia district committee of Shilpa Shramik Union told this correspondent that the State government�s move would affect every labourer of the State.
He said the State government�s justification that increasing shift duty from 8 to 12 hours daily during the COVID-19 pandemic would create more scope for employment is in fact a mere eyewash. The real motive behind this is to help the capitalists have their way in matters of working hours.
On the other hand, the Tinsukia district committee of All Adivasi Students� Association, Assam (AASAA) also opposed the State government�s decision on labour reforms.
In a press statement, the president of Tinsukia district committee of AASAA Raja Kujur and vice-president Suresh Bhumij came down heavily on the State government for introducing fixed-term employment and increasing the duty shift period of the labourers from 8 to 12 hours and said that these decisions would make the workers and labourers suffer.
The Adivasi student leaders said while taking the decision of increasing the shift duty time from 8 to 12 hours, the State Cabinet completely ignored the labour movement the world over.
With little regard to the International Labour Organisation�s convention, besides turning a deaf ear to the plight of the labourers during the current COVID-19 triggered situation, the government has given upper hand to the industries majors, especially the multinationals to adopt an anti-labour attitude towards the workers.
They demanded the State government to withdraw the said decision immediately.
