Members of the Karnataka State Building and Other Construction Workers Federation, Dakshina Kannada district committee, held a protest outside Mini Vidhana Soudha in Mangaluru on Wednesday, urging both central and state governments to meet the demands of construction workers. District general secretary Yogesh Jappinamogaru called for the release of overdue monthly pensions, which have been withheld for the past two months.
He also pressed for the immediate distribution of pending educational financial aid from 2022, as ordered by the high court. Jappinamogaru further highlighted the need for urgent action from the welfare board and the state government to resolve delays in renewing construction workers’ registrations.
Pointing out the hardships faced by millions in the sector, he emphasized that despite a construction boom, many workers continue to live in unsafe conditions. Migrant workers, in particular, face extreme challenges, while women in the industry endure wage discrimination and sexual harassment.
CITU district general secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal criticized the BJP-led state government and the NDA for merging 29 labor laws into four codes, including the Building and Other Construction Workers Act of 1996, which he said stripped away critical benefits for workers. Bajal warned that if the demands are not met, protests will intensify across Karnataka. A campaign was already conducted from October 1 to 15 in areas where construction workers live as part of this ongoing struggle.
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