Demand to include porters under labour laws, extend pension benefit

"THE lives of unorganised labourers are still insecure. They can earn a living till their health is good. So, all those laws that apply to labourers have to be applicable to the hamalis' (Coolie) too," opined K S Shivappa, honorary president of APMC Hamalis' Association.

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Speaking at the International May Day celebration organised here on Thursday, Shivappa urged the government to provide pension for the coolies' as they face hardships once they retire. "This was our long-standing demand. Nobody extends their support when the coolies become weak to carry out their work," he said.

He said the May Day celebrations started when workers failed to get the requisite money for their work. They went on to fight for their rights and later the United Nations decided to celebrate International Labourers Day on May 1, he said.