DIBRUGARH, Jan 7 � Thousands of construction workers of the ongoing gas cracker project at Lepetkata here, who had staged work boycott from Wednessday resumed work today after the contractors and principal employer- Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) agreed to fulfill at least eight demands of the workers during an 11-hour long meeting held yesterday till late night.
As per the agreement, the contractors will ensure payments of minimum wages as provided by the Central Government notifications and the principal employer would monitor the same strictly. Henceforth, a high skilled worker, skilled worker, semi skilled worker and unskilled worker would draw a daily wage of Rs 259, Rs 220, Rs 182 and Rs 156 respectively. As a goodwill gesture the contractors also agreed to give payments to the workers for Wednesday and Thursday during which workers resorted to boycott all construction works.
All these agreements were facilitated by Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central), Suresh Chandra Saikia. The leaders who represented the workers were the office bearers of BCPL Nirman Shramik Union, BCPL Shramik Sangha, All Assam Weilders� Association, BCPL branch and Dibrugarh District Unemployed�s Rehabilitation Demand Commitee.
The meeting resolved that in future if any contractor is found not complying with the provisions agreed upon at the meeting, the workers� unions concerned would report the matter to the principal employer before going into any type of agitation. The Assistant Labour Commissioner would also facilitate next meeting on February 16 to discuss other demands of the workers, union leaders said.
