Massive Protest in Guwahati Against Labour Policies
Protest Against Government Labour Policies
Members of CITU, Assam State Committee, staging a demonstration at Chachal, in Guwahati on Monday. (Photo: AT)
Guwahati, Sept 29: More than 5,000 workers and employees from various districts gathered in Guwahati, organized by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), to protest against the government's labour policies.
The rally, which began at the Chachal protest ground in Sixmile, escalated into a street blockade as protesters marched towards the Dispur Secretariat, demanding action on their long-standing issues.
Criticism was directed at the BJP-led State government, with protesters accusing it of failing to uphold the dignity of labour as mandated by the Indian Constitution. The unions called for an immediate halt to the implementation of new Labour Codes in Assam and demanded that the government officially announce a minimum daily wage of Rs 800 for workers.
Additionally, they sought a daily wage of Rs 661 for tea garden workers, the removal of bureaucratic obstacles for registered construction workers accessing welfare benefits, and the enforcement of equal pay for equal work.
A significant point of contention was the recognition of grassroots community workers. The unions referenced the recommendations from the 45th Indian Labour Conference, insisting that Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and mid-day meal cooks be acknowledged as formal workers entitled to regular wages rather than honorariums.
The protesters also demanded the swift determination of wages for contract workers in both public and private sectors, in accordance with historical Supreme Court rulings, and called for strong social safety measures for unorganised workers, particularly in the motor vehicle sector.
Tensions rose in the afternoon when no senior government officials appeared at the Chachal ground to receive the workers' demands by 1:30 PM. In response, thousands of workers broke through the initial barriers and marched towards Dispur, leading to a significant police presence, including the Dispur Deputy Commissioner of Police, to manage the crowd.
After a brief confrontation with security forces, the protesters sat down on the main road, causing a complete traffic standstill.
The situation calmed when administrative representatives arrived to accept the memorandum directly from the demonstrators. Officials from the Women and Child Development Department, Labour Welfare Department, and Construction Workers Welfare Board received submissions from various groups.
While Rubul Sarma assured the All Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association that discussions would begin after the Durga Puja holidays, Labour Department officials did not provide immediate solutions, leading to criticism from union leaders.
In light of the administration's response, CITU State general secretary Tapan Sarma issued a stern warning, stating that if the government does not take satisfactory action on the demands by October, all Labour Department offices in Assam would be shut down starting November 1.
The rally also garnered support from Joint Coordination Committee of Unions convener Bhabendra Kumar Kalita and democratic women’s leader Niyati Barman. CITU State president Dinesh Nayak and other senior labour leaders addressed the crowd, highlighting that while state policies have favored corporate interests, the working class continues to endure economic hardship and suppression of their right to protest.