The Call of AICWF: Construction Workers Observe All-India Protest Day

Thousands of construction workers demonstrated on 30th November 2021 before district labour offices in several districts throughout country to observe All India Protest Day at the call of All India Construction Workers Federation (AICWF) against anti-labour, anti-farmer, anti-people policies of the Modi Government. They protested the attack on the working class in general and construction workers in particular, in the form of 4 labour codes, national monetization pipeline, privatization, skyrocketing price rise, unemployment, dismantling of construction workers’ welfare boards, denial of benefits to construction workers, etc. After demonstrations and sit-ins, a 10-point charter of demands, in the form of memorandum addressed to Prime Minister, was submitted through respective labour offices. Demonstrations were addressed by leaders of construction workers along with leaders of AICCTU and CPI-ML.

In Delhi, construction workers demonstrated before the office of the CM & LG. The demonstration was addressed by VKS Gautum, national secretary of AICWF, Abhishek Kumar, state secretary of AICCTU and Ravi Rai, state secretary of CPI-ML, among others.

In Bihar, construction workers demonstrated in several districts and submitted the memorandum. R.N. Thakur, national secretary of AICWF led the demonstration at Patna. S.K. Sharma, general secretary of AICWF and Mukesh Mukt, district secretary addressed the demonstration of construction workers at Bhagalpur. Surendra Singh, national vice president of AICWF led the demo in Hajipur, while Ramchandra Das led the demonstration of construction workers at Madhepura.

In the state of Jharkhand, district level demonstrations were held in Ranchi led by national secretary of AICWF Bhuvneshvar Kewat. Also, demonstrations were held in other districts like Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dumka, etc.

In Odisha, demonstrations of construction workers were held at Bhubaneshwar, Bhadrak, Sonapur, Gajapati, Kendra Para, Khurda, etc. Mahendra Parida, national secretary of AICWF led the demonstration at Bhubaneshwar.

In Uttar Pradesh, Construction workers demonstrated in various districts including Lucknow, Raebareli, Kanpur, Varanasi, Deoria, Banda, Sitapur and Faizabad.

In Karnataka, construction workers demonstrated in Gangavati, Koppal, Raichur and Kolar.

Demonstrations were also held in South-24 Pargana in W. Bengal, Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh and Mansa in Punjab.

S. K. Sharma, the General Secretary, AICWF, congratulated construction workers for their militant participation, and said that a month-long campaign in will culminate in demonstrations at state headquarters throughout the country.

MAIN DEMANDS :

A. To strengthen the welfare boards, 1% of GDP should be allotted by the union government and the cess should be increased to 3%. No infringement of the rights of unions and facilitate enrolment of workers in the boards by making enrolment easier.

B. Withdraw 4 labour codes that are anti-labour.

C. Minimum wages of Rs. 1,000 per day.

D. Free housing, Education and health.

E. ESI coverage for construction workers.

F. 8-hour workday and double OT for extra work, Bonus, Leave, Gratuity, and other facilities on par with regular government employees.

G. Ration Cards for all construction workers.

H. Guarantee the safety of women workers at the workplace.

I. Strengthen legal provisions for the safety of migrant workers.