Unorganised labourers in district seek benefits

Coimbatore: Unorganised labourers from the district on Thursday besieged the office of the assistant commissioner of the labour welfare department at Ramanathapuram, seeking pension and educational assistance for their children.

Protesters said though they had registered more than a year ago in the unorganised workers welfare board seeking pension, education assistance for their children, financial assistance for marriages and compensation in case of accidental death, they never got any benefit. Though they had also petitioned the minister for labour as well as the labour welfare department officials, there has been no respite.

G Manoharan, a representative of the Joint Action Committee of Coimbatore District All Unorganised Labour Unions, said there are about one lakh unorganised labourers in the district.

“Several people above 60 had registered in the welfare board for pension about 10 months ago. The labourers, who had applied for educational assistance for their children for the year 2017-2018 haven’t got the amount from January 2018 to May 2018. Because of this, they are unable to apply for the educational assistance for 2018-2019. Also, if the election is announced, they can’t apply for educational assistance. So, we want the time limit for applying extended till June,” he said.

The members also sought that the unorganised labourers from the district, who have applied for pension be enlisted and be provided pension from the date of application.