All central trade unions jointly staged a dharna at Master Canteen Square here on Friday in protest against the “anti-labour” and the “anti-people” policies of the Union and State Governments.
They opposed the Union Government for creating four labour codes replacing all 43 labour laws. They opposed the State Government for retrenchment of engineering employees in establishments where less than 300 workers are working and enhancing daily working hours from eight to 12 hours.
“We strongly oppose the decission of the Central Government to privatise 109 railway routes, coalmines, Nilachal Inspat Nigam Limited and other public sectors. Both the Union and State Governments have failed to manage the Covid-19 situation,” alleged INTUC natinal vice-president and State president Dr RC Khuntia.
He slammed the Union Governmnet for not giving financial assistance of Rs 10,000 for the first month and Rs 7,500 per month for six months to all workers, including migrant labourers, and 10 kg rice or wheat per head for six months.
“The Odisha Government has not paid Rs 2,000 to all migrants labourers and Rs 15,000 to those came from outside the country and completed quarantine perios as assured by it,” he alleged.
He lamented saying that the unusual hike in petrol and diesel prices has added to the woes of people.
CITU leader Janardan Pati, AICCTU’s Radhakanta Sethi, AITUC’s Rama Krushna Panda, HMS’ Pravat Tripathy and BP Das and AIUTUC’s Purna Chandra Behera spoke. Among others, Kishore Jena, Madan Mohan Dhal, Shyam Sundar Moha, Prasanta Mohapatra, Bijaya Jena, Sura Jena, Mahendra Parida, Satyabrata Nayak, Dharanidhar Swain, Pranati Mishra, Pradipa Das and Akshaya Tripathy were present.