AGARTALA, March 27 (TIWN): A team of workers appointed in welfare of stone bricking and stone crushing workers placed deputation to the labour Commissioner on Monday.

They raised various demands including wages and work facilities.

The construction workers in 2015 went on national strike demanding proper implementation of All India Building and Construction Workers Act in all the states and union territories, enrollment of all the construction workers, brick kiln workers and stone crushing workers in State welfare Boards, ensuring representation for the CITU in tripartite State Welfare Boards in all the states.

The Federation also demanded a substantial increase in the existing welfare benefits and ensuring equal benefits in all states. It said that there should be no diversion of board funds to other purposes.

The other demands are: increase pension to Rs 2000 per month and reduce age of pension eligibility for women to 55 years; allotment of more funds for infrastructure and development works by both central and state governments in their annual budget; stop entry of FDI in construction sector; lift the existing ban on sand, blackstone mining and on earth cutting for bricks manufacturing and save the livelihood of millions of workers; central and state governments should take proper steps to reduce the price of construction materials like cement, steel, paints etc; state governments should distribute sand and blackstone at reasonable prices through its godowns; ensure housing for construction workers; implement RSBY in all states and union territories and increase the limit of medical benefits from Rs 30,000 to one lakh rupees; all India Identity Card (Smart Card) to be issued to the inter-state migrant construction workers to get welfare benefits; minimum wage for unskilled workers at Rs15,000; central government should evolve a suitable policy to protect Indian construction industry and construction workers.

However, regarding all these the committee placed deputation and asked for support to this issue.

Labour Organization was set up in Tripura in 1951 under one Labour Officer. This was upgraded to Labour Directorate in 1965 under the control of Chief Labour Officer. The Labour Commissioner started functioning as Head of Department since 1978. Subsequently, in 1982 the Organization of Factories and Boilers was separated from the Labour Directorate. 

Labour Directorate is responsible for –

1. Prevention, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes in the State

2. Enforcement of awards and settlements

3. Implementation of Labour Laws in industries and establishments in respect of which the State Government is the appropriate Government

4. Fixation and revision of minimum rates of wages in schedule employments

5. Running welfare activities meant for worker.