Trade unions demand rise in minimum wages

Several trade unions today held a joint protest-cum-rally demanding rise of minimum wages, revival of small industries and abolition of contractual services.
Workers and leaders of BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU and HMS began their rally from Shaheed Smarak and congregated at the civil lines railway crossing here, the police said.
The rally was addressed by a number of trade union leaders and state functionaries including Raj Bihari Sharma of BMS, INTUC's Ghasi Lal Sharma, AITUC's D K Changani, HMS' Mukesh Mathur and CITU's Ravindra Shukla.
In a charter of demands the unions alleged the Centre and state government were running on the directions of Capitalists and industrialists and pursuing anti-labour policies specially in the unorganised sector.

We also demanded that the minimum monthly wage of Rs 10,000 for labourers should not be linked with price index and inflation, investment in public sector be stopped and restrictions on bonus and gratuity be removed, a joint trade unions' spokesman said.
Separate memorandums would be submitted to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Rajasthan, he added.