Register MGNREGS workers as construction labourers: Unions

CHENNAI: The National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labourers, a collection of trade unions, demanded Union and State governments to register all Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers as construction labourers.

The committee has also emphasised on creating a corpus fund for the workers by deducting Cess from the MGNREGS fund.

It should be credited to the State welfare boards for extending social security coverage for the workers of MGNREGS, which helped millions of families during the COVID-19 pandemic by guaranteeing jobs, according to R Geetha, the southern region coordinator of the committee.

The committee has also demanded compulsory registration of all migrant workers and to provide them free rations, health care, shelter and child care in all destination states.

The committee is planning to take up a nationwide yatra to put forth their demands.

“We are also planning to organise demonstrations in front of Parliament during the coming session of the Parliament,” she said and noted that the decision has been arrived at following the meeting of the office bearers of the National Campaign Committee in Delhi recently. Broaching upon the Union government’s labour codes, the members of the committee flagged the issues concerning the safety of workers in unorganised sectors.

They insisted upon the need for comprehensive legislation to ensure labour rights and their protection. They have also envisaged to stage demonstrations in state capitals across the nation to highlight the adverse impact of the labour codes and the need for restoration of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards.

They would also emphasise the authorities to ensure compulsory registration of all BOC workers and no unregistered worker on any site or establishment.