THE Maharashtra State Construction Workers Coordination Committee organised a massive march to the office of the Labour Commissioner & Chairman of the Building & Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board in Mumbai on November 5 on a 13-point charter of demands. More than 10,000 construction workers from all districts of Maharashtra, especially Kolhapur, Solapur, Jalgaon, Pune, Nashik, Wardha, Aurangabad and Mumbai, participated in the rally. The major demands of the construction workers were Diwali gift/bonus on account of purchasing tool kit and restoration of mediclaim policy.

The other demands included settlement of pending claims; simplification of registration and renewal procedure of construction and ‘naka’ workers; pension and subsidy of Rs 5 lakh for housing; enhancing the compensation amount in case of natural and accidental death of construction workers; enhancing the amount of scholarship to their children; and payment of minimum wages to workers affected due to natural calamities and draught-like situations.

At a meeting on October 11 in Ahmednagar, CITU decided to organise the rally. Accordingly, CITU and the Construction Workers Coordination Committee carried out statewide campaign. Due to intensified campaign in Kolhapur and other districts, a large number of construction workers participated in the rally.

The massive rally started from Sion in Mumbai City around 11.30 in the morning under the banner of CITU. Construction Workers Coordination Committee general secretary M H Shaikh, working president Bharma Kamble, treasurer Abrham Kumar, office-bearers Shivaji Magdum and Akash Bagul, and corporater Mashapa Vite led the rally. The colorful rally reached the office of the Labour Commissioner & Chairman of the Building & Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board at Bandra-Kurla Complex after a span of two hours. CITU secretary D L Karad, Construction Workers Coordination Committee president Sitaram Thombre, other leaders including Mahendra Singh, Sayeed Ahamed, K R Raghu, Shailendra Kamble and Joy Xavier participated in the rally.

A 31-member delegation from different districts, under the leadership of M H Shaikh and D L Karad, met the Additional Labour Commissioner of Maharashtra and the Welfare Board Secretary. The delegation held discussion on various demands of the workers. The authorities agreed to pay Rs 5,000 as Diwali gift for purchasing tool kit, restoration of mediclaim policy within two weeks, settlement of pending claims, and simplification of registration and renewal procedure. The Welfare Board will release required funds to assistant labour commissioners of all districts within the next two days for implementation of these decisions.

After the successful agitation, the Maharashtra State Construction Workers Coordination Committee has decided to observe December as members’ registration/renewal month.  CITU secretary Karad, addressing the workers, appreciated the role played by all office-bearers of the committee for the success of the agitation programme. He said the policies being pursued by the central and state governments are not in the interest of the working class, which is evident from their decisions in favour of the capitalist and big business and the proposed amendments in various labour laws. Under this situation, unification of all the workers under the banner of strong unions and launching of series of agitations are essential. He said Maharashtra has collected a huge amount for welfare of construction workers through cess but hardly spent any money on their welfare. CITU and the Construction Workers Coordination Committee must ensure proper utilisation of this fund. He said the union must aim to register at least two lakh of the estimated 20 lakh construction workers in Maharashtra.