Thiruvananthapuram: The 16-day-old strike of LPG headload workers in the district was called off on Friday, as Labour Minister Shibu Baby John and department officials stepped in and acted tough, a day after the High Court also intervened with an interim stay and status quo order on various contentious issues which had led to the stir.
The workers and transporters yielded when the the Minister maintained in unequivocal terms that the Government would not hesitate to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), if necessary, in the event of their continuing the strike. The Minister had convened an emergency meet of various stake-holders in his chamber, resulting in an end to the deadlock inspite of many consultations at the level of the Labour Department officials.
Shibu said that he had even taken permission from the Chief Minister to invoke ESMA and ensure normal LPG supplies to various categories of consumers if Friday’s talks too failed, setting the ground for a speedy settlement. He pointed out that the High Court had also taken a serious view of the crisis imposed upon the public during the festival season.
Transporting agents of IOC argued at the meeting that what they were paying as wages for loading /unloading to headload workers were inclusive of the levy meant for the Workers’ Welfare Fund Board. The Minister took exception to it and insisted that the levy ought to be remitted directly to the Welfare Fund and not as part of wages.
The Minister pulled up the IOC management and transporters by reminding them that they cannot absolve their obligations as per the clauses in the credential bid entered into at the time of awarding tenders. The strike of headload workers cannot be frowned upon since they had resorted to it not for a wage hike in strict terms, but seeking a clear-cut decision on payment of the levy.
With the Government making its stand clear, representatives of TUs, transporters and IOC managements gave an undertaking that the issue would be settled positively within a month. The supplies are expected to be put back on track within two days. Shibu Baby John also made it clear that payment of levy to the Welfare Fund Boards will be made applicable to all relevant sectors in the State. Labour Secretary X Anil, Labour Commissioner T T Antony, Additional Commissioner Johny Vincent and others were also present at the meeting.
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