Steel Workers Dharna in Bhilai

CENTRE of Steel Workers-AICCTU, CITU, Democratic Steel and Engineering Workers Union (LEMU), Janwadi Sanitation Workers Union-AICCTU, Hindustan Steel Contract Workers Union, Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha Coordination Committee, and Bhilai Lok Srijan Samiti jointly organized a one-day dharna in front of the Industrial Relations Department to demand proper resolution of regular and contract workers’ problems and to protest against actions with malicious intent against workers. At the end of the dharna, a 11-point memorandum was submitted to the CEO of the Bhilai Steel Plant.

Addressing the dharna, labour leaders strongly criticized the anti-worker policies of the government and the administration and said that the Modi government which had come to power with promises of bringing ‘achhe din’, bringing down prices, generation of 2 crore jobs per year, and ending corruption is actually doing the very opposite of what they promised. This government is working to benefit corporate houses and loot the common man. All sections of society including farmers, workers, dalits, minorities, students, youth, and women are in distress due to the anti-people policies of this government. The memorandum submitted to the CEO of Bhilai Steel Plant made the following demands:

1. The contract system is a form of modern slavery; it should be ended.


2. Labour laws and safety regulations should be strictly implemented.


3. The anti-worker affordability clause should be removed and the long-pending steel workers’ wage agreement should be speedily reached.


4. SAIL pension scheme should be implemented speedily and without discrimination.


5. Contract workers should be given ID cards, attendance cards, salary slips, PF slips, ESI benefits and their salaries should be paid by the 10th of the month.


6. Machines should be made available for the cleaning of sewerage and drainage manholes.


7. Sanitation workers should be provided with safety equipment like gas-masks, towels, gumboots, soap and oil.


8. Contract workers should be given the democratic right to unionize, and their right to vote in union-approved election should be ensured.


9. Gender discrimination against women workers and sexual harassment at the work place should be ended.


10. Victimisation of workers who fight for implementation of labour rights should be stopped.


11. Workers’ problems should be properly addressed through bipartite talks with labour unions.