Contract Labourers to intensify stir
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 28 2014:
Strongly reacting to the statement of Director of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) that the labourers are not related to the Department, the Labourers' Welfare Association, Sangaiprou has today decided to intensify its ongoing stir.
Addressing media persons at a press meet held at Manipur Press Club, Imphal today, Secretary of the association Romendrajit Moirangcha warned the government that the agitating labourers may resort to violence, if the government fails to consider their demands by allocating them works by October 7 next.
According to Romendrajit, the labourers of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) have been hired by a labour contractor.
Therefore, according to Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, Section 2 (1) (b), the workers are termed as contract labourers.
As such, the provisions of the Act should be followed in the department.
The department as well as the contractors should strictly follow the provisions given by the Supreme Court of India, stated Romendrajit.
According to the Act, the Director, CAF&PD, M.Yaiskul Meitei is the principal employer and he should provide the amenities of the labourers of the department.
"The act of discriminating the labourers of the department by terminating from their jobs after many years of service at the department is highly condemnable", said Romendrajit while adding that CAF & PD is a department for the people of the state and is not responsible by a single individual.
Considering themselves as real employees of the department, the labourers' association has been protesting by ceasing work since August 16, 2014.If their demands are not rightful according to the law, then they would apologize before the people of the state, Romendrajit added.