Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday extended their May Day greetings to all workers in the state.
In his May Day message, Khan said, "My best wishes to the working people of Kerala, whose labor and dedication facilitate the progress of our nation and the world. I wish them greater success in refining their skills and in protecting their rights and dignity through amity and unity”.
Vijayan in his May Day greetings, said there was a great importance and relevance in observing Labour Day especially at a time when the "neoliberal capitalist policies" were taking away the rights of the workers.
The Left leader, in his Facebook post, attacked the union government over its alleged "anti-labour" policies and said the BJP-led NDA government has not created any new posts and refuses to make appointments to the existing 10 lakh vacancies.
"May Day reminds us of the class consciousness that unites workers across the world... There is great relevance in observing Labour Day at a time when the country is affected by the neoliberal capitalist policies that are taking away the rights of workers," Vijayan said.
Citing reports submitted in the Parliament, he said only 7.22 lakh appointments were made in both the central government and the public sector undertakings across the country.
The veteran further said the saffron party has not created any new posts and are yet to make appointments to the existing 10 lakh vacancies in the union government and the public sector undertakings.
The CM pointed out that there were three lakh vacancies, which are yet to be filled in the Railways.
"Only contract appointments are made for jobs that pay less. Even in the army, permanent jobs are being replaced by contractual appointments. This shows the true colours of the BJP which came to power with the promise of creating two crore new jobs every year." Listing out the achievements of the Left government in job creation, Vijayan said over two lakh appointments were made through the state Public Service Commission in the last seven years.
"According to the Reserve Bank of India, Kerala pays Rs 837.30 per day, the highest daily wage in the construction sector of the country. The successive Left governments have fixed the minimum wages in 59 sectors," he added.
The labour welfare policies implemented by the CPI(M)-led government was a way of resistance to the prevailing anti-worker attitude in the employment sector of the nation.
Workers in Kerala are expected to celebrate May Day, the international workers day, with rallies and public meetings across the state. Marches are likely to be organised by joint committees of central trade unions in the state capital here and other districts.
