| Staff REPORTER |
ITANAGAR, May 19: The Arunachal Pradesh Trade Union Council (APTUC) has urged the State Government to take immediate steps to strengthen labour rights and welfare mechanisms across Arunachal Pradesh.
Addressing reporters at the Arunachal Press Club here on Tuesday, APTUC president Jalley Sonam alleged that several labour welfare laws meant for the benefit of workers have not been properly implemented in the State, depriving workers of various social security benefits and protections.
Sonam informed that the Council had submitted a memorandum to the State Labour Commissioner on May 4, demanding establishment of the Dattopant Thengdi National Board for Workers Education and Development in Arunachal Pradesh, implementation of the Shop and Establishment Act under the Code on Social Security, 2020, constitution of a Minimum Wages Advisory Board, and revision of wages for graduate and post-graduate workers.
He claimed that establishment of the Dattopant Thengdi National Board in the state would significantly benefit organised and unorganised workers in both rural and urban areas by promoting workers’ education, awareness and skill development.
Referring to the implementation of the Code on Social Security, 2020, Sonam stated that the matter had earlier been discussed in the State Assembly in 2016. He said implementation of the Act and Rules would enable thousands of workers employed in shops and commercial establishments to access benefits such as provident fund, Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), bonus, gratuity, employee compensation and minimum wages.
According to the APTUC president, the absence of proper implementation has resulted in workers facing long working hours, denial of weekly offs, non-payment of minimum wages and lack of social security coverage.
The APTUC also appealed to the Govt to constitute a Minimum Wages Advisory Board under the provisions of the Code on Wages, 2019, to regulate and revise minimum wages for both organised and unorganised workers in the state.
Among other demands, the trade body called for mandatory implementation of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) provisions and stricter regulation of inter-state migrant labourers and contract workers operating in Arunachal Pradesh.