Unorganised sector labourers extend their support to strike

Labourers in unorgainsed sector today extended their support to one-day nationwide general strike called by central trade unions (CTUs) tomorrow in protest against changes in labour laws and also accused the NDA government of ignoring the rights of informal sector workers.
Several outfits, representing the unorganised labourers have united under the banner of "Working People's Charter" to push their demands, also appealed BJP-backed Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) to rethink on its decision to withdraw its support to the plenary strike at the eleventh hour.
The organisations also launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre's 'Make in India' initiative, claiming the programme insults the country's working force as its shows them as "cheap labour" in the eyes of the world.

"Modi's government doesn't accept our minimum wages demand for unorganised sector. They have snatched purchasing power of the sector. The unorganised sector forms 55 per cent of the nation's GDP, but it has been denied social security.
"Hence, we have decided to joint the CTUs. Since we are coming together, our strength too has increased. We will be more organised, unionised thus," Swami Agnivesh, social activist and chairman of Bandhua Mukti Morcha, told reporters.
Agnivesh urged BMS to not get influenced by political parties and keep unity of CTUs intact.

Targeting Modi, Agnivesh said the Prime Minister was reaching out to world asking them to 'Make in India' with an assurance the nation will provide them with cheap labour, this he said, shows workers in poor light.

"He is showing India's labour as cheap work force. We condemn him for selling our labourers thus," he said.
The outfits further said they were expecting between three and four lakh people to take part in the strike which will be held in two ways: one on streets by trade unions and the informal sector workers at their levels by bunking work.
The outfits reiterated their demands of ensuring minimum monthly wages of Rs 15,000 with a provision of indexation, at least Rs 3,000 pension for entire working class, social security for labourers, employment guarantee, right to housing, setting up vigilance committee in every district of the country, etc.