Banking and other services in Jammu and Kashmir were marginally affected today due to the day-long strike of central trade unions, which also took out a rally here to protest against the proposed changes in labour laws.
"Most of the banks and other institutions were working normally and traffic was not impacted in view of the strike here", an official said.
Besides, the J&K joint platform of trade unions comprising CITU, INTUC, AITUC, insurance companies, banks, BSNL and central government employees organised a workers' rally at Press Club of Jammu.
Maintaining that frequent amendments to labour laws have so far harmed the employers, CITU's state general secretary Om Parkash said these amendments have deprived the working class who need coordinated efforts and a united resistance to safeguard their own interests across the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir.
Parkash expressed serious concerns over the plight of the working class who are adversely hit by the "neo-liberal" economic policies pursued by the government.
"These policies are drastically affecting the workforce, especially those working in the unorganized sectors across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, virtually reducing them to the status of bonded labour," Prakash said.
He demanded that the services of daily wagers, contractual and need-based workers in PHE, PDD and other state departments should be reguarised immediately.
Besides, he expressed anger over the undue obstructions created by Construction Welfare Board in registering genuine labourers for months.
