AICCTU Protests Killing of Workers in Factory Fire in Delhi's Anaj Mandi

Workers Massacred In National Capital – Central & State Governments To Blame For Death Of These Workers

Starting the protest march from Civil Lines Trauma Centre, hundreds of workers marched towards the residences of Delhi CM & LG. The protesters sat outside CM Kejriwal's residence and submitted memorandum to the CM and the LG. The protest was done as part of National Protest Day called by AICCTU. Protest rallies and programmes were carried out in various states including Delhi, Bihar, UP, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal etc.

Rajiv Dimri, National General Secretary of AICCTU, while addressing the protesters outside Delhi CM's residence said, "This is not an accident but a massacre of workers within few kilometres of Indian Parliament and Delhi State Assembly. While the big and powerful relish the comfort of their bungalows and cars, the working class is condemned to die in factory fires, sewers or construction sites. This situation is mostly because of anti-people governments ruling our country."

Eyewitnesses Claim Casualties To Be Much Higher Than 43

Though the official figure of total deaths remains around 50, the eyewitnesses of the incident claimed that the actual figures were much higher around 100. It remains a matter of grave concern that in such incidents the government officials keep understating the figures and never bother to investigate the claim put forward by workers and local eyewitnesses.

Workers Only Live To Die Because Of Anti-Worker Policies In India’s National Capital

Oblivious to the miseries of working class people in the national capital, the Central and State Governments continue to cause deaths of hundreds of workers because of their policies which give free hand to employers/ business owners. Though the Prime Minister has expressed his feelings for the workers, it is very well known that the Modi Government is actually helping factory owners and big industrialists by abolishing labour laws and doing away with existing mechanisms of checking violations by factory owners. Mr Prakash Javadekar, a minister in the incumbent Modi government proudly announced from his twitter handle that NOCs from Labour Department would no longer be a pre-requisite for industries in Delhi! Thus, the words of ‘grief’ as expressed by the PM have no significance other than demonstrating the hypocrisy and anti-labour, anti-people outlook of the Modi Government. One cannot abolish labour laws and at the same time ‘cry’ for the death of workers. Hundreds of thousands of workers had to leave Delhi or starve because of the Modi Government’s policies and an overall economic downslide. Several hundred continue to die in factory fires or inside sewers within just few kilometres of the Parliament have actually voted in favour of abolishing labour laws or refrained from opposing the changes being brought by the Modi Government. It is because of aggressively pushed ‘labour reforms’ and disregard for lives of the poor masses that these workers have died – in fact it would be very accurate to say that these workers have been killed because of government’s love for big business and collusion with capital to take away all labour rights, however inadequate they might have been.

These Incidents Must Stop - Labour Minister Must Resign

Comrade Santosh Roy, President, AICCTU Delhi said, "The Delhi CM is busy collecting money from industrialists, and the PM is busy in dismantling labour laws for his corporate bosses. Both of them have blood on their hands. Delhi's Labour Minister, Gopal Rai is still in deep sleep, we demand his resignation for failing to protect the lives of these workers."

The Road Ahead : Blame Game Won’t Help The Cause Of Workers

Like always this incident has again started a blame game between the Modi And the Kejriwal governments. However, none of them claim to be on the side of the workers, it is very well established that both the ruling parties (BJP & AAP) are more than willing to sacrifice workers in order to ensure the well-being of employers/ factory owners, who give huge donations to these parties.

Some demands put forward by the protesters are as follows –

1. Immediately bring to halt the cases of workers’ death due to factory fires, strictly implement labour laws in Delhi. Stop toeing the line of Modi Government on abolition of labour laws.
2. The Labour Minister, Mr Gopal Rai must resign because of his inabilities and unwillingness to implement labour laws and in stopping ghastly incidents related to factory fires, sewer deaths etc.
3. Families of dead workers should be immediately provided a relief of Rs 50 lakhs and one member from each family of dead/ disabled worker should be given a permanent government job. All injured workers should be given a compensation of Rs 20 lakhs, their treatment should be taken care of by the Delhi Government without lapses.
4. Adequate arrangements should be made by the Delhi Government to transport the bodies of dead workers to their native places. All measures should be taken to prevent any harassment of affected families.
5. The report of committees formed to investigate the cause of factory fires should be made public and an action taken report should be provided to all concerned parties including the Central Trade Union Organizations, which have raised these issues on various occasions.
6. All government agencies/officials responsible should be punished after a thorough investigation.
7. Workers representatives ie. Trade Unions should be consulted for issues of implementation, lapses and violations of labour laws on monthly basis.
8. Laws for stricter punishments to employers flouting Factories Act and other labour laws should be made and implemented strictly.
9. The deficiencies in the Labour Department as pointed out in CAG surveys should be immediately addressed. Vacancies should be filled and new posts created in the department for inspection of factories.

The protest concluded with resolve to further strengthen the fight for labour rights.