Press Release by the Workers of Mapithel Dam
- Progressive Constructions Ltd Workers' Union -

Imphal / 10th June 2008

Office of the
Progressive Constructions Ltd Workers' Union
Thoubal Multipurpose Project, Manipur

Date: 10 June 2008

The construction of Mapithel Dam (of Thoubal Multipurpose Project, Manipur) which began in early 1980s with intermittent stoppage due to protest by local affected people both downstream and upstream has another little known fact of suppression and discrimination of workers almost akin to a form of slavery. For years, spanning more than two decades, the workers in Progressive Construction Ltd (PCL), of Andhra Pradesh, have been reeling under systematic exploitation of workers building the dam.

A worker from Andhra or those coming from outside the state of manipur gets a higher pay – sometimes more than double than those workers of the same rank but who are from Manipur. Equal work but with different pay based on race is nothing but racial discrimination –right here in Manipur! Interestingly this is done right under the nose of Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Government of Manipur.

Workers who are hired do not get proper documents that prove that he or she is a worker in the company. There is no document that explains the rank or what pay or what kind of holidays one is entitled too. More importantly, workers after their laid off after monsoon are considered as non-workers. When they join back after monsoon, they are treated as a new worker. In other words, even if you have worked for years, the company treats a worker as if s/he has worked only for a season only.

There is no policy or guidelines for promotion or demotion, or for pay increase, or for exterminating workers. In the face of which the company does whatever under its whims and fancies. It kicks out worker even under slightest mistake, promotes whoever is going to help them in keeping worker's complaints at bay. At the work site there are no proper amenities such as drinking water, resting place, canteen, and health facilities. Those who get injured at work site have to pay on their own. If there is death due to accidents there are no policies to compensate the family.

We have filed a set of ten complaints on 5 April 2008 to the Deputy Labor Commissioner under the Government of Manipur. Two months have passed and nothing has been done to look into the complaints. A large company like PCL which is involved in several projects in India cannot feign ignorance of labor laws under which framework it should treat its workers.

The workers cannot wait for more days to get justice restored. If no action is being taken by the company or by the government in particular the IFCD or by those who are concern about worker's rights within five (5) days from the day of this press release, the workers of PCL will resort to severe action even to the extent of cease work till the demands are met and justice and respect restored.

Chairman
Kaikho Jajo

Secretary
Sara Paul

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This information is sent to e-pao.net by Ramananda Wangkheirakpam. He can be contacted at wramd(at)yahoo(dot)com .
This PR was webcasted on June 10th 2008

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