CITU Protests in Guwahati for Fair Wages and Labour Rights

Protest for Workers' Rights in Guwahati

Guwahati, Nov 2: On Monday, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) organized a protest outside Shram Bhawan in Ulubari, demanding a minimum daily wage of Rs 800 and the cessation of the new Labour Codes in Assam.

Various workers' organizations, representing employees from 98 scheduled employments, participated in the demonstration.

Among the protesters were Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and mid-day meal cooks, who sought recognition as workers entitled to wages rather than honorariums, along with social security and regularization of their positions.

The sit-in, initiated by the CITU Kamrup Metropolitan District Committee, commenced at 9 am as part of a broader campaign addressing the state government's failure to protect workers' rights.

The organization has outlined six key demands to the state government.

These demands include issuing an official notification to establish the minimum daily wage at Rs 800, resolving issues related to construction workers' welfare benefits, setting wages for contract workers, and extending social security to all unorganized sector workers, including those in motor transport.

A protester expressed concerns that the Labour Department and the state government have neglected workers' interests, highlighting the lack of an official minimum wage notification for 98 scheduled employments since 2015.

“The Assam government has not issued an official notification on the applicable minimum wages since 2015 for the 98 scheduled employments. We now suspect that the state’s Labour Department is against the interests of the workers of Assam,” the protester stated.

A general secretary of CITU accused the government of favoring the wealthy while workers continue to fight for their rights.

“We demand lawful daily wages, social security, and regularization. This agitation will persist until we receive written assurances,” the general secretary asserted.

The organization also highlighted the daily wage of Rs 280 received by tea workers in Assam, noting that approximately 2.71 lakh workers in government services, including Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and mid-day meal cooks, are deprived of proper wages.

CITU raised additional concerns regarding the implementation of welfare schemes for unorganized and motor transport workers, the challenges faced by registered construction workers in accessing benefits, and the increasing reliance on contract labor in both public and private sectors.

The organization has vowed to continue the agitation until the government provides written assurances addressing the workers' demands.