Brick-kiln owners hike wages, workers end 12-day protest

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, May 7

After holding a victory rally at about 11 pm on Friday, members of the Lal Jhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union, led by Tarsem Jodhan, former MLA and state general secretary of the union, ended their 12-day-long dharna outside the district administrative complex (DAC) here.

The rally was organised after the signing of an agreement last night between the brick kiln workers’ union and brick kiln owners’ association in the presence of officers of the Labour Department.

The brick kiln workers had been staging a round-the-clock dharna outside the DAC here since April 25, seeking hike in their wages for moulding bricks and other demands. 

With the reported intervention of the district administration, the owners signed an agreement with regard to hike in wages and other facilities to workers at brick kilns. 

During their 12-day-long protest, the brick kiln workers organised demonstrations and marches and also burnt effigies of the administration and government.

Kulwant Singh, Labour Inspector, Sangrur, confirmed the signing of the agreement to give the workers Rs 642.35 for the moulding of 1,000 bricks which would be implemented from March 1.

Talking to The Tribune, Tarsem Jodhan, state general secretary of the union, said that due to the agitation, the owners agreed to give Rs 642.35. Earlier, they were not ready to give wages more than Rs 583. He said these wages would remain implemented till August 31.

Besides, the brick kiln owners would also provide pure drinking water, electricity to workers at brick kilns and give money for uniform.