Construction Workers Stage Massive Dharna At Jantar Mantar For Labor Rights

Thousands of construction workers from across India gathered at Jantar Mantar on Friday under the banner of the All India Confederation of Building and Construction Workers (AICBCW), affiliated with the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). The demonstration aimed to highlight their long-standing demands related to wages, social security, and improved working conditions.

The protest was inaugurated by AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur, who expressed solidarity with the workers and criticized the government for failing to address their concerns. K Subbarayan, a Member of Parliament, presented the workers' demand charter to the Minister of Labour and Employment, emphasizing the urgent need for policy changes in favor of laborers in the unorganized sector.

Several prominent leaders addressed the gathering, including Rajya Sabha MP K Sandosh Kumar, AITUC National Secretaries Vahida Nizam and Ramkrushna Panda, and AICBCW General Secretary Vijayan Kunnissery. They echoed the workers' grievances, stressing that construction workers, who form the backbone of India's infrastructure sector, continue to face exploitative conditions, delayed payments, and lack of proper safety measures at work.

Presiding over the protest, Vasudev Gupta reiterated that the workers are demanding fair wages, pension schemes, and effective implementation of labor laws. AICBCW Deputy General Secretary Parveen welcomed the participants and underscored the importance of the dharna in bringing national attention to the plight of construction workers.

A key resolution of the gathering was the decision to participate in the upcoming National General Strike on May 20, called by the platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations. The strike is expected to witness participation from various labor organizations, reinforcing the collective demand for better labor policies and protections.

The protest highlighted the growing frustration among construction workers, many of whom have been struggling with job insecurity, lack of health benefits, and inadequate compensation. The workers have vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met, setting the stage for intensified labor action in the coming months.