Former Rajya Sabha MP Dr RC Khuntia while presiding over the 27th National Convention of Indian National Building Construction, Forest and Wood Workers Federation (INBCWWF) demanded many sops for the construction and forest workers.
The Government of India and all State Governments should allow construction workers facilitate registration, its renewal and compensation application in case of death offline. Dr Khuntia also demanded that the Constitution needs to be amended to make health, safety and social security as fundamental rights.
Appolinar Tollentino, regional representative, Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) in his speech said Building and Wood Workers International with support of other national trade unions could make a strong lobby in ILO for making a decision to make health and safety a fundamental right of workers.
Dr Khuntia also demanded proper utilisation of CAMPA and District Mineral Foundation funds for afforestation and welfare schemes for forest workers.
Among others, Jatani MLA Suresh Chandra Routray and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati spoke. There were 700 delegates from 220 unions from 30 districts who participated in the convention where 25 resolutions were passed.