VADODARA, May 3: The country's largest chemical industrial estate in Ankleshwar came alive with workers' slogans on International Labour Day on Friday. The workers demanded abolition of contract workers, betterment of work conditions and health facilities under the Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIS), among other demands.The workers representatives also handed over a memorandum demanding better ESIS services at their office in Bharuch.
May Day, which coincides with Gujarat's foundation day, added to the credence of their demand to declare the day a holiday from next year.
Workers cycled through the estate as part of a 12 km rally organised by the Samyukta Shramjivi Samiti.
The workers criticised the deteriorating working and safety conditions in the factories despite globalisation and liberalisation of the economy, according to Hina Desai, an advocate and one of the organisers. Among the organisers were city-based advocate Mansuri and Mukesh Desai and others from Ankleshwar.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
