BELLARY: The Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) plans to organise a demonstration all over the country on June 19 to mount pressure on the Union Government to pass an ordinance with regard to enhancing the bonus ceiling limit.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, S. Prasanna Kumar, secretary of the State unit, said at present workers getting around Rs. 3,500 were eligible to get bonus and the bonus ceiling was fixed at Rs. 2,500.

At the International Labour Conference held recently, the managements of various trade and industries had favoured that the eligibility limit could be enhanced up to Rs. 10,000.

The CITU wanted the Union Government to immediately take steps to give effect to the decision taken at the conference. "The enhancement of eligibility ceiling would benefit a large section of the working class and in order to ensure that workers got the benefit, the CITU had planned staging of demonstrations all over the country to pressure the Government to concede their demand," he said. Mr. Prasannakumar expressed concern over the inordinate delay on the part of the State Government in appointing staff for implementing the rules chalked out for the welfare of construction workers. According to him, the State Government had recently framed the rules but had not appointed staff to give effect to the rules which would benefit around 15 lakh construction workers in the State.

"Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari seems too busy to care for the welfare of the construction workers. He should appoint staff and ensure that the rules are implemented," he said.

The CITU would be organising a five-day training programme in Raichur for construction workers on the rules and their rights.

Venkataramana and R.S. Basavaraj, CITU leaders in the district, were present.

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