Unorganised workers to wind up stir in city

The Unorganised Workers Federation will hold a protest demonstration in the city on September 17, ending their string of agitations across Tamil Nadu. 

Among the key demands of the federation is a plea to set up a grievance cell immediately to scrutinise and act on petitions that are filed with the authorities.

In Tamil Nadu, there are 17 welfare boards catering to persons working in various unorganised fields.

According to activists, the powers of these bodies are ‘considerably diluted’ as they come directly under the control of the labour officers. The sector also feels that the boards do not ‘adequately address the problems’ faced by workers.

Geetha Ramakrishnan, social activist and advisor to the Unorganised Workers Federation, pointed out that though the unorganised sector workers contribute 65 per cent of the GDP, not even one per cent  of budget gets allocated for their social security.

Arguing that often women workers face sexual harassement in their work places, she also pointed out that they are paid low wages.

Women workers also have to put up with the ordeal of working long hours. “Important issues like these must be taken up in the appropriate welfare boards,” Geetha Ramakrishnan urged.

Citing statistics, she said unorganised sector employed 2 crore workers in Tamil Nadu and over 40 crore in India, with women and children constituting over 40 per cent.

This sector covers a range of occupations in construction, agriculture, handlooms, fish, salt, domestic, street vending, forest, sanitary, laundry service, occupations, home-based work and so on.  Most of the unorganised workers (in various occupations), especially migrants, have no proper identity papers and are ‘invisible’ on records.

“Registration of such workers have to be done,” she said, underscoring that this is another important demand.

She also pointed out  that child labour and bonded labour are seen in many occupations, so regulation of employment and wage acquire significance and have to be implemented under the TamilNadu Manual Workers Act 1982. The demonstration drive, began at Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district on Monday.