Construction workers being ignored, says union leader

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 7 

The fifth three-day state-level convention of the Punjab Construction Labourers Union today commenced at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall. 

Addressing the conference, senior vice-president of the Centre of Trade Union, Punjab, Mangat Ram Pasla said construction workers are considered to be the backbone of the country. Regretting that they are ignored completely, Pasla said it has been seven years since the Punjab and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board has been constituted, yet the registration process has been very slow, rendering it useless.”

“Only 3,65,111 labourers have been registered until October 31, 2015. Of these, only 2,13,939 members have been live members of the board. Until now, the board has collected Rs 867.99 crore from cess and membership fee and it claims that Rs 185.09 crore has been distributed among the workers,” Pasla added. 

“Claims made by the board about the distribution of money do not seem to be true,” he alleged, adding that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is not better than the Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA government as the policies of neo-liberalisation are being implemented at the same pace.