`Abolition of 44 laws and converting them into 4 black labour codes betrayal of working class’

Ludhiana, May 1, 2022: Workers on May Day sounded the trumpet to protect their rights and to fight against the communal and divisive policies. Workers will continue to struggle to unite the country with its unity and diversity. 

Addressing a public function organized by All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Joint Council of Trade Unions and various unions of the Municipal Corporation at Bus Stand Ludhiana D P Maur, vice president of AITUC Punjab and general secretary of the Joint Council of Trade Unions, said  that the present Modi government at the center under the leadership of RSS is openly handing over the country to foreign capitalists due to which our country's capital is being taken over by the local and foreign capitalists and the benefits of the country's progress are not being passed on to the working people. During this period Jobs have fallen sharply and unemployment has risen to great extent.

He further said that laws for the workers’ rights are being flouted by the government itself and all laws are being made in favor of the capitalists in the name of labour reforms. The contractual system of labour is being extended where the rights given to the workers do not apply and the minimum wage is not paid. Prices of diesel, petrol, cooking oil and essential food items are skyrocketing. It has become difficult for them to run their homes. 

Charan Singh Sarabha, Patron PSSF said that the workers had contributed a lot in the freedom struggle and had made sacrifices and contributed more in the post-independence nation building. At the same time they fought for their legitimate rights such as 8-hour workday, job security, provident fund, medical facilities, minimum wage, right to form unions, combining wage increase with inflation. They struggled for the national development of the country's heritage such as railways, banks, coal and iron ore, insurance sector, transport, telecom etc. for the overall development of the country. But in the last few years, all this has been turned upside down and these national resources are again being handed over to the wealthy and the corporate class. Even the retail is also being handed over to the foreign corporate class which is deteriorating the condition of our small traders and industrialists and in the days to come its condition will become more pitiable. The sovereignty and security of the country is being threatened by inviting 100 per cent foreign capital in the ongoing security sector in the public sector as well. 

Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary Municipal Worker Union and AITUC Ludhiana General Secretary Vijay Kumar   said that trade unions were not being taken into confidence for formulating Social Security Code. Schemes like ESI are being undermined by making changes in this code. They are being undermined in the name of bringing all social security schemes under one roof. Permanent jobs are being eliminated by outsourcing everything on contract. Earlier, promises by the government that every year two crore jobs will be given has proved to be false. Pensions are also being scrapped. By reducing interest rates in banks, employees and the middle class are being deprived of their savings and livelihood facilities. Small savings are being undermined. 

Government School Teachers Union leader Parveen Kumar said that the contract teachers should be made permanent. Punjab Subordinate Services Federation District Ludhiana President Com. Harbans Singh presided over the function. 

Surinder Singh Bains, General Secretary, Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, District Ludhiana also addressed the gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, Hosiery Union leader Com. Ramreet Yadav said that there has been no increase in the hosiery peace rate for many years while inflation has been steadily rising.

Among those addressed the rally Com. Manjit Gill, M S Bhatia, Com Randhir Singh Dheera,  Kewal Singh Banveet, Chamkaur Singh, , Rachpal Singh, Sukhwant Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Daljit Singh, Saroj Kumar, Arjun Prasad, Balvir Kaur and Dalip Singh Kheepal.