Unions demand better working conditions for cleaning staff

Trade unions today condemned the policy of contractualisation of cleaning staff and demanded better working conditions with proper wages and social security for the employees.
"We condemn the policy of the contractualisation of the cleaning staff whereas the Prime Minister has dramatised the whole issue of cleanliness. The PM is serving the cause of foreign and Indian capital," said Santosh Rai, secretary, AICCTU at a workers' meet here, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign.
The workers owing allegiance to various trade unions also observed International Action Day by holding a procession to protest unemployment and to demand stable employment and "dignified" work atmosphere.

Speakers at the gathering also said that the market-driven forces were responsible for increasing unemployment to provide for more profits to companies.
The 'neo-liberal' economic model, being pursued in India for more than two decades, has failed to address the issue of unemployment, the leaders of unions like AITUC, CITU, AIUTUC, UTUC, AICCTU, TUCC and TUI, said.
"The incumbent government has brought 'achhe din' for big corporate houses and the workers are being made to pay for that and hence bad days are ahead for them," said G L Dhar, secretary, AITUC, who also called upon workers to strengthen their united movement against government's "anti-labour" reforms.

CITU president A K Padmanabhan said "we are not only asking for employment but a decent and dignified work with proper wages and social security."
Earlier, the leaders spoke on the International Action Day and its significance, saying it marked the foundation of the World Federation of Trade Unions on October 3, 1945, after the Second World War.