Trade unions seek free ration, cash support for workers

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

Ahead of their meeting with Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar, heads of 10 central trade unions have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a slew of relief measures for workers, including free distribution of the buffer food stock, in view of the lockdown.

In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, leaders of INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, TUCC, AICCTU, SEWA, LPF, AIUTUC and UTUC raised concerns over the miserable condition of the workers due to loss of jobs, which has made it difficult for them to even fulfil their basic needs.

The leaders want distribution of the food stock without any condition or verification document from the workers.

AITUC general secretary Amarjeet Kaur, who is one of the signatories, said they had also urged the Prime Minister to subsidise the MSME sector for wage payment of their employees as it was facing financial crunch.

The unions also expressed concern at charging of fare by the Railways from stranded migrant workers returning to their homes.

They further asked for revocation of the Union Home Ministry’s May 3-order which states that the government will facilitate movement of only those stranded workers who had gone to work or from work place to hometown just before the lockdown but could not return to their  native/work places due to restriction of movement.

The union leaders also made a case for cash support of Rs 7,500 per month for a period of three months to each of the non-income tax paying households of working people for their survival.

The unions are scheduled to meet Gangwar on Wednesday.