Unorganised workers raise their voices

CHENNAI: The unorganised workers raised their voices and demanded that their social security needs be met, in a conference organised by the National Alliance for Social Security, on Tuesday.The unorganised workers from various sectors, along with their representative bodies, gathered to debate and take a stand on the Central Unorganised workers Social Security Act 2008 and also the Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Act 1982.In a day long proceedings, they came up with several resolutions which will be forwarded to the respective ministry and department both in Centre and the State. For the toiling masses, which constitute 2.5 crore of the Tamil Nadu population and 45 crore in India, their struggle to find social security is an ongoing battle, in this age of globalisation.Geetha Ramakrishnan, State Secretary of the Unorganised Workers Federation and spokesperson for National Alliance for Social Security, said, “The Central Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008 is completely flawed. It doesn’t even follow the minimum social security standard as prescribed by the ILO for the unorganised sector. The government, both at the centre and the state, should address and ensure nonemployment assistance, sickness benefits, medical benefits, maternity benefits, pension and also a guarantee for employment and wages of the unorganised labourers.” She added that the government should do away with the BPL and APL distinction for the unorganised workers while extending the RSBY (Rashtriya Swathya Bima Yojna) and the national health insurance scheme.She also recalled the ongoing controversy about the Planning Commission’s definition of BPL, the pittance `20 a day for the urban poor and `15 a day for the rural poor. She said, “It is really sad that the Planning Commission takes such an unrealistic stand, when the inflation on basic food and other essentials are galloping.” The Advisory Committee under the Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Act 1982, should be reconstituted to have two-thirds of worker representatives and women should be given one-third of representation. Geetha said, “Right now among the 20- member committee, only five are workers, we need more workers on board, which will help in serving the intended purpose.” The other demand was to completely scrap the Tamil Nadu Government GO: 122, 123, 124, which had caused huge trouble to the unorganised workers, when it came to registration as they have to go through the revenue department officials.The other speakers at the conference also raised their concerns. Both the Central and the State governments should allocate three per cent of their budget towards the welfare of the unorganised sector. The levy should be collected on all production and distribution, which will go towards the welfare fund. A separate welfare board for every sector were some of the demands raised.BWI-TCWF (Building Workers India-TN Construction Workers Federation) and NASVI (National Association of Street Vendors of India), which are part of National Alliance for Social Security, along with various other trade unions participated in the day’s event.