Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 17 November 2023
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), A & N State Committee, orchestrated a significant demonstration and public meeting in Port Blair on 16th November 2023, highlighting multiple labour issues. The demonstration, procession, and subsequent gathering aimed at addressing concerns such as the immediate revision of minimum wages, opposing anti-labor actions by the Labour Department, restoring Sunday wages for daily-rated mazdoors, and combatting rising prices.
A multitude of workers gathered at the office of the Labour Commissioner, staging a resounding demonstration condemning the perceived inaction of the Labour Department concerning the revision of minimum wages and alleged anti-labor actions by department officials. Subsequently, a substantial procession paraded through Port Blair town, culminating in a public meeting at Tiranga Park, Aberdeen Bazar.
Addressing the assembled workers at Tiranga Park, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary of CITU State Committee, lambasted the Administration for its failure to revise minimum wages, slated for implementation from January 1st, 2023. Chandrachoodan accused the Labour Department of favouring employers over workers and highlighted alleged corruption within the Construction Workers Welfare Board under the department’s jurisdiction.
D. Ayyappan, Vice President of CITU State Committee, criticised the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for the Labour Department’s perceived inaction in resolving long-standing worker issues, particularly citing instances where the clarification/advice provided by the Labour Commissioner led to the retrospective recovery of Sunday weekly off wages from 2017. Ayyappan also accused the BJP government and the A & N Administration of treating daily-rated Forest Department workers as seasonal, consequently denying them rightful pay and benefits.
R. Surendran Pillai, President of CITU State Committee, presided over the meeting, outlining the Administration’s unfavourable stance on minimum wage revision and declaring CITU’s intent to escalate agitation for worker issues in the islands. SP Kalairajan, Secretary of CITU State Committee, extended the vote of thanks.
The demonstration and procession, led by BC Bhattacharjee, M. Boominathan, Anand Rajan, M. Yugandar, and P. Sathyapal—Vice Presidents and Secretaries of CITU State Committee—saw active participation from hundreds of workers across various government and private sectors.
The event underscored the pressing need for labor reforms and the persistent grievances of workers, setting the stage for intensified agitation until their demands are met.