AAPWU demands white paper, opposes retrenchment decision

Itanagar, Jun 18 (UNI) The All Arunachal Pradesh Workers' Union (AAPWU) has urged the state government to revoke its earlier decision to retrench about 8,800 labourers and demanded a white paper on the entire issue.

AAPWU President Jalley Sonam, during a press conference here yesterday, expressed resentment over the decision and said the government should have consulted the AAPWU before taking the 'harsh decision'.

Demanding a better deal for the workers who had contributed immensely to the state's development, he said the decision should be reviewed for those having served for less than 15 years.

''We will submit a memorandum to the chief minister demanding to change the government's stand on our various demands and their redressal within 14 days, failing which, we will appeal to the Centre,'' he said.

Most of the retrenched labourers, engaged with PWD, could be transferred either to the Water Resources or Public Health Departments as a solution, he suggested.

He alleged that the refusal of the government to award the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) contract works to the deserving candidates was affecting the labourers.

He suggested that the labourers could be engaged to get all the works done, while the contractors could supply materials.

UNI