AICCTU representatives met the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to put forth important demands of the workers on 1 June 2023, which includes taking back of the 80 workers of ITI who have been fighting for their rights since December 2021 and for the implementation of the judgement of the High Court of Karnataka in regard to the same, to provide permanent jobs to all safai karamcharis working across Karnataka, to bring drivers and loaders involved in solid waste management under the direct payment system, to increase the minimum wages of garment workers, to provide rehabilitation package to the mine workers in Ballari district, and to stop eviction of street vendors across Karnataka. The Chief Minister has assured the workers that he would look into the issues and initiate suitable action in regard to the same.
The newly-formed government had made certain promises towards the welfare of the workers in its election manifesto, and the Chief Minister was apprised of the same.
The previous government led by the BJP had wreaked havoc on the lives and livelihoods of workers and pushed them into a severe economic crisis through all-out attacks against the rights of the working class and amendments to laws made to snatch away the rights. When protests against the same were launched by AICCTU, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, who were in the opposition at the time, extended their support to the workers’ struggles and had promised that when in power, they would ensure that workers’ rights are protected.
The following demands were made to the Karnataka Government:
1. All safai karamcharis currently employed in all urban local bodies across Karnataka under the direct payment system must be provided permanent jobs
2. All those vehicle drivers, loaders, UGD workers, cleaners, manhole workers and supervisors employed under the contract system across all urban local bodies in Karantaka, doing the work of solid waste management, must be brought under the direct payment system
3. The recommendations of the IPD Salappa report must be implemented
4. The recommendations of the three-member committee appointed in 2013 must be implemented
5. All safai karamcharis must be provided with free housing
6. The children of all safai karamcharis be provided free education from KG to PG
7. All 80 workers of ITI Ltd., Bengaluru who were refused employment must be taken back to work
8. A minimum wage of Rs. 25,000/- must be announced for garment workers, and steps must be taken to ensure dignified working conditions
9. The amendments to the Factories Act in 2022 must be withdrawn
10. The mine workers of Ballari district must be rehabilitated and re-employment must be guaranteed for them
11. The contract system in all government and private-run hospitals, libraries and other sectors must be abolished and the workers be provided permanent jobs
12. Urban Employment Guarantee Act has to be enacted to combat the rising rate of unemployment
13. Minimum Wage Revision must take place once every three years, instead of the existing 5 years.
