WORKERS WANT EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND
As many as 50 crore workers are expected to suffer the impact of the economic slowdown caused by Covid-19 in India. The working people’s charter (WPC), an alliance of trade unions and various organisations working mainly with informal but also formal and self-employed labour, based in Delhi, on Friday, demanded an emergency relief fund for workers and professionals of `50,000 crore and tax exemptions for the business class.
Workers from trade unions and representatives of various professional organisations in the formal and informal sectors are bearing the economic brunt of the infection, they stated.
The WPC has asked the central government task force to create a `50,000-crore emergency workers welfare fund. The fund can be added to the state relief packages for the benefit of the people.
With Kerala announcing a relief package for workers in all sectors, Uttar Pradesh is to support migrant workers. Other states have not yet declared any funds due to their fiscal capacity and on-going schemes.
A member of the WPC drafting proposal said, “We want relief in the current situation to help workers through the crisis. There will be a cumulative effect. Economic vulnerability of all sections must be accounted for by the state and central governments. There is a need for direct benefit and also indirect economic support in terms of tax exemptions. Businesses are suffering during the wedding and festival season and losses are not recoverable in next season.”
Daily wage workers, street hawkers, domestic, construction and agriculture workers must be provided a minimum package relief of `10,000 per month demanded the WPC. Their contention is that street hawkers and vendors who have been issued municipal challans must be tracked and offered relief as they are not in registered government records.
The WPC has appealed to the central government to provide concession on cooking gas cylinders that range from `800 to `750 per cylinder and roll back prices on unsubsidised ones ranging from `1,450 onwards.
Utility bills of electricity, water and property tax are burdens on the middle class and relief of two months must be provided to them in the form of subsidised bills. Revised energy rates for high and middle class group and subsidise for middle and poor consumers is the demand.
The ripple effect of shutdown will be felt for the next three months and workers are going to have a tough time dealing with rents, fees of educational institutions, food and emergency health expenses, if any. The government providing relief was an urgent necessity and apart from the state governments, the central government must work out a comprehensive package, urged the WPC.