Strike: 3,000 workers march in Goa; banks, industries affected

Work in banks, industries and the insurance sector was affected in Goa today due to the nationwide strike called by central trade unions to press for their 12-point demands.
Thousands of workers in the coastal state marched in protest against the "anti-labour" policies of the central government, supporting the nationwide strike call given by 10 trade unions.
Goa Convention of Workers (GCW), an umbrella organisation of trade unions, today held a protest march in the city starting from Kranti circle culminating at Azad Maidan.
"More than 3,000 people participated in the march," GCW Convener Suhas Naik told PTI.
"We had not asked other sectors to participate in the strike. It is not all Goa bandh. There is a difference between strike and bandh," Naik said, responding to a question on response to their agitation.

"The strike was successful. The attendance in the government offices was thin," he added.

The unions are demanding to stop the process of amending the existing labour laws, withdraw Road Transport Safety Bill, stop disinvestment of public sector undertakingsand FDI in Defence, Railways, Retail trade, Insurance,Banks, Insurance and otherfinancial sectors.
They are also demanding revision in minimum wages for all schedules of employment with linkage to dearness allowance and minimumwage not less than Rs 18,000 per month with effect from January 1, 2016.
The unions are also demanding to abolish Contract Labour System inall perennial and permanentjobs,operations in governmentandprivate establishments.