The Hindu : Kerala / Kollam News : AITUC to organise cashew workers' stir

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Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kollam

AITUC to organise cashew workers' stir

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: Cashew workers are being organised under the banner of the pro-AITUC Kerala Cashew Workers Central Council for a major agitation in protest against the denial of their rights and benefits.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, the president of the Congress, N. Anirudhan, and the general secretary, A. Fazaluddin Haq, alleged that the United Democratic Front Government was playing a role that would help a section of the private sector cashew processors deny the workers their rights and benefits.

Mr. Anirudhan alleged that the Labour Department has been directed by the State Government not to intervene in complaints against denial of rights and benefits to cashew workers. Although workers are made to work for six days, the Dearness Allowance of only three days was being given. Statutory rights such as the Provident Fund and the Employees State Insurance were also being denied by some of the private companies.

More pathetic is the plight of retired cashew workers. Workers who had retired since 1996 were yet to get their gratuity. As per the law, workers should be given their gratuity within six months of retirement.

In order to register their protest against the alleged apathetic attitude of the Labour Department, cashew workers will stage a dharna on June 10 under the banner of the Council in front of the Assistant Labour Commissioner's office here and in front of seven other State Government offices in various parts of the district.

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