Workers demand hike in wages, stage dharna at Collectorate

Eluru: Hundreds of workers led by CITU activists staged dharna in front of collectorate, here on Monday in protest against the anti-worker policies of the government. The CITU activists including women took out a rally and reached collectorate in response to the union’s ShramikaShankaravam call and staged a dharna.

CITU state vice-president V Umamaheswara Rao said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been implementing the anti-worker policies. He alleged that for the last three years, there was no change in Chandrababu Naidu’s attitude andadded that he started to oppress the workers agitations.

He stated that the government did not enhance the minimum wages. “Chandrababu always says that he will transform the state as Singapore and Malaysia, then why can’the enhance the minimum wages to the workersin the state when the government of Telangana could enhance the wages to the workers,” he questioned.

He said that according to Supreme Court, anyone who diverts the building construction workers welfare fund would be liable to punishment. If this action was initiated, Chandrababu would be the first accused, he stated.

He said that the minimum wage should be Rs 24,000 according to a report and the government did not even implement the sixth wage commission recommendation of Rs18,000. CITU district committee president K Raja Rama Mohan Roy, state committee member Chintakayala Baburao, APNGO district JAC chairman RS Harnath were also present.