RMS submit second memo to CM

The leaders also expressed grave concern at systematic efforts being made by the officials as well as unit-owners to crush the labour movement in these areas.

Urging the chief minister to treat the matter with urgency Sonawane alleged that,“While most of the labourers in the Vapi GIDC and its surrounding areas belong to the economically weaker sections, their conditions are being worsened by the large-scale corruption in labour department and factories.”

Gayakawad, highlighting the contract system prevailing in most of the industrial units of the region, alleged that while the contractors engaged by the unit to hire labourers also had a share in the “loot”, the labourers were terminated from their jobs at any time, were deprived of Provident Fund, leave or other facilities.

The union leaders further added that almost all the exploited labourers were deprived of all the beneficial government schemes.Even the ESIC provisions by which labourers could be treated free of cost were not being adhered to, they added.

“While Rs 1.35 lakh of the hard earned money of labourers has been deposited at the ESIC in the past one- and-a-half year, there are no medication facilities for them at the general hospital,” Sonawane alleged.“We have received a number of complaints in the past few months where labourers have been threatened against associating themselves with trade unions or getting enrolled into the RMS,” Gayakawad stated in the memorandum.

The leaders have urged the chief minister to look into the matter with utmost urgency and personally visit the GIDC areas around Vapi and take appropriate action against those found to be flouting labour and factory laws.