Ukhrul GREF Labour Union demands
Source: The Sangai Express
Ukhrul, July 16 2016 :
Ukhrul District GREF CPL Labourers' Union has alleged anomalies in disbursement of wages stating that while a section of labourers without bank accounts enjoyed regular wages, many labourers engaged in construction works under 84 RCC Ukhrul unit who also possess mandatory bank accounts have not been paid daily wages for over three months, reports Jiri News Network.
Since 2014, most of the labourers have opened their bank accounts with UCO bank, Ukhrul Branch under the insistence of the 2-IC in-charge concerned, said union secretary Joshua during a press conference at UDWJA office today.
But even after opening the accounts, manual disbursement of wages continued as before and only once during April-May this year, the wages were credited to the respective accounts, he recalled and added that there has been no transactions till date.
Surprisingly, it was learnt that other labourers who do not have accounts are regularly drawing their daily wages manually while daily wages of many labourers who have duly opened their bank accounts with the said bank have been withheld for over three months now, he continued while appealing to the authorities concerned to rectify the anomalies in the interest of the labourers.
Union advisor K Tuichung pointed out that the 2-IC in-charge concerned has made it mandatory for them to get his permission to withdraw their wages at the said bank and added that without his consent even the UCO manager refused to pay their daily wages.
If the State Government has made opening of bank accounts for disbursement of wages mandatory then why such restrictions, he questioned.
He informed that of the nearly 1000 strength of GREF labourers in the district, almost 80 per cent have accounts with UCO bank Ukhrul Branch.
Meanwhile, the Union has also demanded a hike in their daily wages.
Currently, labourers get Rs 6000-Rs 8100 a month at the rate of Rs 190 per day.
After increasing wages from Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 in 2014, there has been no pay revised, T Horam.