Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 06 2009:
Taking note of the action taken by the government in the backdrop of the global economic crisis, and in an attempt to enjoy the result of neo-liberal policies, the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions, Manipur has put forth 15 demands to the government for immediate fulfillment.
In a press statement, the Sponsoring Committee said that the demands of the committee include the implementation of 6th Pay Commission Recommendation in Manipur and urged the Central Government to incur 100% assistance to the state government.
It demands the government which allegedly took advantages of the global crisis to lift ban on recruitment, downsizing, cut in wages and ban on industries; to undertake relief-oriented programme for the benefits of the public, and to undertake employment generation programme to the deprived sections.
It further urged the government to stop making promises for the reformation in the financial sector, and to strengthen public sector including the banking, general and life insurance sectors and to ban the non-banking and speculative activities including financial institutions of foreign banks; to increase the minimum wages of labourers as per the 15th norms of ILC; to implement all provisions of the labour law; to make sure everyone gets their share under PDS; to encourage public involvement in social infrastructure like road, irrigation, etc.
The statement said that it also demand the government to give first priority to initiate financial institutions to give loan to farmers, small scale industries and then to encourage industrial sector to invest more but not from stock market; to forbid speculation and participatory notes transactions and to make functional on the hire capital of short term and long term policies; to safeguard the domestic industries and to impose import tariff; to ensure NREGS benefits everybody irrespective of their belonging to rural or urban areas and to look for more viability of job in the labour incentive sector; to amend the Unorganised Workers Act; to employ the Anganwadi workers and helpers, home guards, and mid day meal cooks on regular basis; to immediately stop the frequent incidents of looting, holding drivers and handymen for ransom by armed men along NH 39 and 53 and to immediately provide Road Task Forces to the two national highways.
It further appealed all concerns to participate in the campaign for the implementation of the demands and to give cooperation so as to make their demands materialize.