Cease-work strike launched
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 16 2016:
Labourers of the State CAF and PD godown located at Sangaiprou have resorted to a cease work strike today at the godown premises over non-payment of wages for the last four months.
Highlighting the reasons for launching the strike, executive member of the CAF and PD Labourers' Welfare Association Oinam Giban said contractors engaging the handling labourers have failed to pay the labourers' wages since April and this has created serious inconveniences and hardships.
For the last many months, the labourers have been requesting the contractors concerned to increase the daily wages for unloading and loading of goods, he said.
Fortunately the CAF and PD issued a notification on April 1, 2016, with a revised fixed rate on loading and unloading charges payable by the contractors.
According to the notification for loading or unloading the revised rates per bag are Rs 6.12 upto 10 height, Rs 7.41 upto 16 height and Rs 8.61 above 16 height.
For loading, the charges was fixed at Rs 7.41, for weighing at Rs 3.06 and for stitching or restacking at Rs 8.61.The labourers have been demanding increase in loading and unloading to Rs 3 per bag against the rates fixed by the CAF and PD Department, Giban added.
Unfortunately the contractors have failed to heed the genuine demands of the labourers.
The association on August 5 submitted a memorandum to the Director of the CAF and PD to disburse the pending wages of the labourers.
Even the contractors, officials, Labour Commissioner and other authorities concerned were earlier apprised to take up required steps.
Since there has been no positive response, the cease-work strike was initiated, Giban said.
He further urged the contractors and authorities concerned to depute the 108 strong handling labourers to other CAF and PD godowns located in other districts and distribute the pending wages at the earliest.
The Department and contractors should not hire new labourers during the cease work strike, he added.