Associations demand immediate release, reinstatement of labourers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 02 2020: All India Student's Federation Manipur State Council has expressed strong condemnation against the inaction of the State Government and the authorities concerned regarding the termination of labourers of FCI in Sangaiprou and Jiribam by one NR Mathai Enterprises and the arrest of 31 workers who were demanding work for their livelihood.

It demanded the authorities concerned to bring an amicable solution and release the workers unconditionally within the first week of January.

A press release issued by the State secretary, MSC/AISF stated that the State Government and the authorities concerned have failed to take up any actions regarding the termination of the labourers and the following protests demanding their reinstatement and release.

The children of the terminated as well as arrested FCI workers had even surrendered their bags, uniforms and books, promising to stop going to school while families of the labourers even gave away their kitchen utensils saying that they now did not have any food to cook as their bread earners (the labourers) had been arrested, it asserted.

MSC/AISF demanded the authorities concerned of FCI and the State Government to solve the matter before it spirals out of control.

On the other hand, People's Action for National Democratic Movement (PANDM) has also urged the State Government to look into the issues concerning the FCI labourers at the earliest.

Lamenting on the issue, a press release issued by the secretary, IPR of PANDM stated that there are many issues plaguing the FCI like a labourer working at FCI/FSD Jiribam being put on record as being alive, even though he had been dead for more than 16 months, as well as the termination of 81 labourers from FCI/FSD Sangaipurou without any valid reason on December 3.It maintained that there are labour laws and not abiding the said laws by the authority concerned, is a blatant violation of the laws as well as violation of the basic rights of the labourers.

PANDM demanded the State Government to reinstate the terminated labourers immediately and to release the arrested labourers as well.

The association also urged the Labour Minister, as well as the CAF&PD Minister to look into the matter at the earliest.

Comment