Capt promises to end labour contract system

Saturday, 10/09/2016

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=164698&boxid=59741&uid=&dat=2016-09-10

Cong to offer insurance cover to labourers if voted to power

Sangrur : Capt AmarinderSingh on Friday promised to end contract system among labourers working in various grain markets in the state if Congress is voted to power. He also promised labourers of ensuring fixed working hours for them.

Interacting with labourers during a ‘Coffee with Captain’ programme organised by state unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress here, Singh spelt out a number of measures for improving working conditions.

The main demand of labourers was abolishing the contract system which not only leads to their ‘brutal exploitation’ but also ‘substantial financial losses’ as major portion of their earnings is ‘pocketed’ by labour contractors, Singh said. He said after abolishing the contract system labourers can manage their work by setting up their own unions which will safeguard their interests.

Singh told gathering that Congress will provide insurance cover to all labourers in case of accidents or death if it forms government in state.The labourers alleged that they also faced harassment by the officials and police. They claimed that even for their normal demands they were slapped with false cases under stringent IPC sections like 307 (attempt to murder).

The labourers said that many of them were jailed. To this, Singh said he had already promised to cancel all the false FIRs on the first day of taking over the government. PCC president also promised to release pending payments of labourers within a time bound period.

‘Sidhu led Awaaz-e- Punjab inconsequential’

Sangrur : Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh on Friday dismissed ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ front led by Navjot Singh Sidhu as too insignificant and too inconsequential to have any impact on political scenario in the state.

‘Three MLAs don’t make a political party,’ he remarked while adding they were themselves not even sure or confident about what they were doing and seeking to do. Interacting with reporters along the sidelines of the ‘Coffee with Captain’ programme organised here, Amarinder also clarified that neither he nor Congress party had sent any emissaries to invite Sidhu to join the party.

I had only said, he was welcome to join the party since he and also Pargat Singh had Congress background as their families were actively involved with the party,’ he said, while adding Sidhu should name the people from the Congress who went to meet him on his behalf.

PPCC president said, the Congress did not face any challenge from anyone and the party will comfortably form the government in the state. He said the Akalis are finished while AAP has already imploded.

Amarinder strongly defended his stand against any outsider seeking to become Chief Minister of Punjab. “That is why, I have challenged Kejriwal that I will fight against him from any constituency he chooses to contest in Punjab, while adding, I am clear about it that Punjab is for Punjabis only.”