Strongly condemning the amendments in the labour laws enhancing the working hours from existing 8 hours to 12 hours a day, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman-JKNPP & former Minister has described the new move as the most inhuman decision which will operate most harshly against the manual work force. It’s not humanly possible to work 12 hours a day, said Singh adding that the ill conceived regulation seemed to be the creation of some sick mind. Not only 12 hours of work a day, but the weekly hours of work have been fixed at 72 hours which further amounted to violation of the human rights of the labour force. He was addressing a press conference today alongwith Mr. Yash Paul Kundal, General Secretary-JKNPP & former Minister.
Seeking the review of the highly obnoxious proposition, Mr. Singh called upon the central as well as state govt to honour the sentiments of the workers who were raising the voice against the amendments in labour laws besides inhuman treatment doled out to them by the govt as well as private sector. He further called for enhancement of minimum wages of labourers which have not been appropriately revised or enhanced for the last several years. Terming the work force as the builders of Nation, Mr. Singh called for due respect for the labourers and redressal of their genuine concerns without further loss of time. He further castigated the govt for the deplorable condition by workers in quarantine centers who were hurled up in small complexes like sheep and goat with no regard for their self respect even their health concerns.
Mr. Yash Paul Kundal strongly condemned the ‘hire and fire’ policy introduced in the labour laws and described it as the greatest injustice with the poor and marginalized labourers. He called for enhancement of the minimum wages of the labourers working in govt sector, private sector, industrial houses, construction works as well as for domestic works. He urged upon the J&K Administration to provide adequate facilities to the quarantined workers and students in various centers earmarked for the purpose in the Districts of Samba, Udhampur, Kathua and Jammu.