IMPHAL, August 2: The wages given to FCS labourers are disproportionately small when seen against the present prices of commodities and they must be increased at the earliest. If the government fails to comply with the demands of the labourers, various organisations will join them in their protest agitations.
This was stated by the chairman of Coordinating Body of Trade Unions L Sotinkumar at a press conference in Irawat Bhawan today.
Stating that labourers in general face difficulties in taking care of their families but FCS labourers are the worst of the lot, Sotinkumar said that many of their children had to drop out of school as they could not meet the extra expenses with their meager family incomes.
He asserted that labourers of the State FCS department must be the ones which get the lowest wages in the world. People have witnessed various forms of agitations staged by FCS labourers from July 6, he added.
People have supported their agitation and also have condemned the concerned authorities for turning a blind eye to the genuine demands of the FCS labourers and for not initiating measures for their welfare, he said.
Sotinkumar stated that till date the wages were very less and didn’t match the minimum amount prescribed by Labour laws.
Convener of Coordinating Body of Trade Unions Khetrimayum Santa stated that FCS labourers and their supporters are waiting for the order assured by the concerned minister Moirangthem Okendro to FCS labourers.
If the government fails to do so, the agitation will resume again, he said.