May Day to be observed on limited scale: AITUC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 29 2021:
In view of the increasing Covid-19 cases in the State, 'May Day' celebration along with AITUC conference will not be held.
Instead a simple function will be held at a different location by adhering to all the SOP.
Laishram Sotinkumar, general secretary, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said this today at a press conference held at Irawat Bhawan and said the drastic increased in Covid cases in the state in the last couple of days has made it necessary for the function which was scheduled to be held on May 1 at THAU ground to be cancelled.
L Sotinkumar added if the 'May Day' observation was to be held as planned it will be attended by atleast 300-400 people with AITUC's 70 affiliated federation sending 5-10 representatives each.
In order to prevent huge conglomeration of people, AITUC will be observing 'May Day' at six different locations across the State viz Imphal, Kakching, Kumbi, Moreh, Senapati and Jiribam and all SOP will be adhered to in all the venues, he added.
May Day is celebrated in remembrance of the revolt by millions of labourers against long working hours that stretch from 12 hours to 20 hours.
A resolution was passed in 1919 at the first convention of International Labour Organisation (ILO) to reduce the working hour to 8 hours.
However such rules are clearly not followed in India which is clear violation of rights of the labourers, he added.
AITUC Manipur secretary, Kh Brojen also questioned the 'citizen centric governance' of the State government which has failed to produce any lead or solution to the mysterious death of medical student Sanaton Athokpam even after a month of the incident.
He also added the issues of non-payment of pension to beneficiaries, non-payment of wages of Job Card holders and regular increased in price of essential commodities including petroleum products.