We have been facilitating the unorganized workers to enroll their names with the Labour Welfare Boards for availing the benefits of social security schemes. At the same time, we have been enrolling them in the trade union KADALU for claiming labour rights. In the process, we have identified the workers with leadership qualities and formed Workers’ Collectives in all eight blocks of Karur district.
One-day training was organized to the representatives of the Workers’ Collectives on the 22nd of January 2023 in Karur. 108 workers underwent training.
Mr. L. A. Samy, the vice-president of WPC (Working People’s Coalition) dealt with the topic ‘Workers’ Rights and Social Security’. He pointed out that workers, in general, endure all kind of hardships and exploitation in fear of losing jobs and also said that unless the workers fight for their rights in united manner in the present, they cannot ensure social security to to the coming generations.
Mr. Sundarbabu, researcher – INHE explained the importance of ESI (Employees’ State Insurance) in ensuring medical care to the unorganized workers. Presently, only the employees belong to organized sector enjoy the benefits of ESI. So, he sensitized the participants to realize the importance of ESI ensured to the unorganized sector workers also.
Mr. ‘Sudar’ Thennarasu, a social activist, dealt with the laws and Acts that ensure labour rights and social security to the workers.
Workers, representing each block, also spoke expressing what could be done for ensuring social security to the unorganized workers. All of them focused on a common demand that the online registration process must be either withdrawn or made simple so as to enable all unorganized workers enroll their names in respective Labour Welfare Boards.