[India] Workers protest to demand minimum wage implementation

In India, members of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development Labours Union, affiliated with AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress) have staged a protest to demand the implementation of Government Order (G.O.) No. 62 to grant them a minimum wage, The Hindu reports.

The sit-in protest in Tiruchi was part of a statewide movement to bring attention to the plight of rural development department workers across several categories, including sanitation workers, pump operators, health workers, computer operators, superintendents, and multi-purpose health workers. 

According to the union and protesters, these workers are paid wages significantly below the minimum wage mandated by the 2017 G.O. Sanitation workers, for example, are reportedly receiving around ₹ 5,000 or less, far below the stipulated minimum wage of ₹ 12,503 as per the G.O.

K. Suresh - AITUC district secretary - said, “Despite the G.O.’s revision in 2017, its implementation remains elusive. These workers continue to be overworked and underpaid for seven years.” 

Mr Suresh reportedly alleged unfair labour practices, he claimed that officials mark workers present for only 26 days despite working all 30 days in a month.

P. Krishnaswamy - the State Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development Labours Union - addressed the protest. It was headed by M.R. Murugan, the district president of the union’s Tiruchi unit.

Source: The Hindu

(Quote via original reporting)

In India, members of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development Labours Union, affiliated with AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress) have staged a protest to demand the implementation of Government Order (G.O.) No. 62 to grant them a minimum wage, The Hindu reports.

The sit-in protest in Tiruchi was part of a statewide movement to bring attention to the plight of rural development department workers across several categories, including sanitation workers, pump operators, health workers, computer operators, superintendents, and multi-purpose health workers. 

According to the union and protesters, these workers are paid wages significantly below the minimum wage mandated by the 2017 G.O. Sanitation workers, for example, are reportedly receiving around ₹ 5,000 or less, far below the stipulated minimum wage of ₹ 12,503 as per the G.O.

K. Suresh - AITUC district secretary - said, “Despite the G.O.’s revision in 2017, its implementation remains elusive. These workers continue to be overworked and underpaid for seven years.” 

Mr Suresh reportedly alleged unfair labour practices, he claimed that officials mark workers present for only 26 days despite working all 30 days in a month.

P. Krishnaswamy - the State Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development Labours Union - addressed the protest. It was headed by M.R. Murugan, the district president of the union’s Tiruchi unit.

Source: The Hindu

(Quote via original reporting)