Post Card Campaign To Demanding Social Security Launched

NEW DELHI, MAY. 02, 2008, 10.50 Hrs (CBCI News):

On the occasion of the May Day Celebrations – 2008, the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India launched the Post Card Campaign, to all members of Parliament to demand complete and comprehensive social security for all unorganized workers in the country.

The first step towards this campaign was inaugurated today, May 1st, 2008, on Workers' Day, by presenting post cards carrying the message of social security by unorganized labourers to Dr. K.S. Manoj, Member of Parliament, who was present during the celebration of May Day at the CBCI Centre.

The Government of India has proposed a Social Security Bill for workers in the unorganized sector aimed at giving insurance cover. Unfortunately, according to sources, the financial budget for 2008-09 has allocated just Rupees five crores for the social security of 423 million unorganized sector workers whose contribution to the GDP is approximately 65%.

Protests by different social organizations and various Labour Movements including the CBCI Labour Commission, haven't been successful in making the government to amend the proposed bill for a complete and comprehensive social security to the workers of this country.

The May Day celebration of the CBCI Labour Commission was also marked by a Seminar on 'Social Security of Unorganized Workers and Union Budget 2008', in which people of various walks of life, including, politicians, bureaucrats, employers, social activists and labourers from the unorganized sector participated.

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. S. Shivakumar, President, Commonwealth Law Education Association and Indian Law Institute, Delhi.

Fr Thomas d'Aquino Sequeira, Deputy Secretary General, CBCI, gave the May Day message.

Note social activists such as Mr. J. John, Ms. Priti Darooka, Dr. R.S. Tiwari, and Mr. Joy Jacob, CBCI Labour Commission spoke on the occasion.

Fr Jose Vattakuzhy, Executive Secretary of the CBCI Labour Commission welcomed the participants and conducted the proceedings.