Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Jul 9: The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (JCTU) and independent sectoral associations had called for a nationwide strike on July 9 to protest against the anti-worker policies of the central government. Responding to this call, the All India Insurance Employees Association and Udupi district Traders Union conducted the strike in Udupi district.
Under the leadership of JCTU, a protest march was taken out from the CITU office to the head post office in Udupi against the labour law amendment and condemning the anti-labour policies of the central government. Hundreds of workers and employees gathered in front of the head post office demanding fulfillment of various demands through the strike.
Balakrishna Shetty, CITU state vice president, during the protest spoke against the problems and injustice faced by the workers due to the labour law amendment who said, “This is the 25th bandh, and even farmers are supporting it. We are protesting here because this is a central government office, and we will submit our memorandum to the union government through the SP. This is a protest for our very survival. Today, the union government is trying to take away our rights. For us, this is a matter of life and death. While the number of labourers is increasing, their earnings are decreasing. By siding with IT owners, the government is obstructing the growth of workers. The union government must withdraw these policies, or else our protests will become even fiercer,”
A petition of the demands of the workers was presented to the prime minister of the country through the Postmaster General.
The protest was attended by convener JCTU, K Vishwanath from AIIEA, U Shivanand from AITUC, Umesh Kundar from CITU Udupi, Kiran Hegde from Intac INTUC, Sunitha Shetty from CITU Karkala, Nagesh Nayak from AIBEA, Rama Karkada from CITU Brahmavar and others.
Addressing the protest held at the premises of the Udupi division Office by All India Insurance Employees Association, Derick A Rebello said, “The attack on the public sector insurance industry is continuing unabated. The government is set to introduce the Insurance Law Amendment Bill in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, which proposes amendments to the Insurance Act 1938, LIC Act 1956, and IRDA Act 1999. The Bill seeks to increase the FDI limit in the insurance sector from 74% to 100%.”
Derick A Rebello, further explained that the proposed amendments aim to redefine the scope of composite licenses, reduce the minimum equity capital requirement to start insurance companies, lower solvency margin requirements, and grant greater powers to IRDAI.
“Additionally, the government plans to reduce the net owned fund requirement for foreign reinsurers from Rs 5000 crore to Rs 1000 crore and is considering selling another 6.5% stake in LIC through offer for sale (OFS). The privatisation of public sector general insurance companies is also being pursued,” he said, urging workers to resist these policies.
Speaking on the occasion, union general secretary K Vishwanath said, “We are continuously fighting for the recruitment of Class 3 and Class 4 staff in LIC, and this demand is part of our current struggle.”
He also cautioned about the dangers of the four labour codes - Industrial Relations Code 2020, Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code 2020, Social Security Code 2020, and Wage Code 2019, imposed after repealing 29 existing labour laws.