Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Wednesday met with Central Trade Union Organizations (CTUOs) and asked them to focus on reviving the industry and help in gradually opening up the economy.

Share Market Live

NSE

The discussion was majorly discussed four major issues.

(i) Protection of the interest of workers and migrant workers

(ii) Measures to generate employment

(iii) Measures to adopt for restarting economic activities

(iv) Measures to improve the situation of MSMEs.

The minister told the CTUOs to instill confidence among the workers to resume work wherever possible instead of migrating back to their native place.

In reply, the CTUOs asked the Labour Ministry to provide more trains to transport migrant workers stranded in various parts of the country. The trade unions also sought more financial assistance for labourers to run their families and facilitate their return to work once the situation is under control.

The trade unions also asked the labour ministry to create a national register for migrant workers/unorganised workers with facilities of portability, data transfer to help the migrant labour in getting employment.

Here are 10 demands trade unions have made to the Labour Ministry:

Ensure working hours of workers should not be increased during this time

Supporting MSMEs, particularly small and tiny industries through measures like interest waiver/restructure of on loans, providing subsidized electricity, etc

Ensure a proper supply of raw material to these industries

Work out strategies for sectors like hotels, cinema, sports, and automobiles; severely affected due to lockdown

Provide a subsidy to small and tiny industries in wage component so that these employers are able to pay full wages

Workers who have lost jobs due to lockdown should also be provided cash incentives

Strict implementation of the labour laws and advisories issued by Ministry of Labour & Employment regarding payment of wages and non-deduction of salaries

Monitory assistance, free supply of ration and medical facilities to the unorganized workers and daily wagers

Government should procure farm produces so that the farmers can pay wages to the agricultural workers

Train fare not be taken from the Migrant Workers going back

First Published:May 6, 2020 6:36 PM IST