BMS to protest against fixed term employment, contract labour on Sept 6

RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has decided to stage a nationwide protest on September 6 to press the government to withdraw its notification on fixed term employment and to stop exploitation of contract labour.

It has also demanded equal pay for similar work.

BMS said the increasing number of contract workers and their extreme exploitation and harassment has created huge resentment in the entire labour sector.

"In order to take immediate steps and to pressurise the state and central governments to withdraw the notification on Fixed Term Employment and to stop the exploitation of contract labour, the BMS will stage protests at the district centres across the country on September 6, 2018." a BMS statement said.

The decision was taken at BMS' 142nd Central Working Committee Meeting held in Cochin from August 10-12, it said.

In the Contract Labour (Regulation and abolition) Act, it is mentioned that, contract labour should be abolished as far as possible; and where it is not practical or possible, the working conditions of contract labour should be improved, it said.

The workers should be ensured of the benefits provided, but the provisions of law are not being followed at any level, the union said.

The resolution passed at the meeting demanded for convening an immediate meeting of the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB) and take steps to prevent the widespread exploitation of contract labour.

The union has asked for enforcing the legal provisions for the formation of State Contract Labour Advisory Boards and to ensure of the provisions of the Act to regularise the contract labour and the principal employer should be made more liable.

BMS has also demanded amendment in the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970, for decent employment in view of the increasing number of contract workers.

It also made a case for inclusion of the provision of Equal pay for similar work in the Act itself instead of the existing provision in the central rules and make its compliance compulsory.

The union has asked the government to make compulsory at least the provisions of Minimum Wages Act for contract labour in the non perennial jobs in all industries for the time being.

It also demanded that contract workers should be ensured bonus, EPF, ESI, pension, gratuity and the like.

The resolution also called for withdrawal of the notification on Fixed Term Employment with immediate effect.