ASSRGWA RESPONSE TO COVID 19

On demand of the ASSRGWA district administration Bhavnagar, Gujarat distributed 10,800 ration kits to the ship-breaking workers and to their families on 19 April 2020. These kits were funded by SRIA (Ship Recycling Industries Association). The task force formed by ASSRGWA consist of 40 activists distributed these kits ensuing social distancing measures. Total 21,500 kits were distributed in two phases. While distributing the ration kits, unions demanded that it should be given to all the workers and members of their families, irrespective of the worker is directly employed by SRIA or otherwise.
On 24 March 2020, the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire 1.3 billion population across 28 states and 8 union territories. All work and public transport services have reportedly stopped. Alang Sosiya Ship Recycling & General Workers Association (ASSRGWA) is an affiliate of Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) at national level and IndustriALL Global Union (through SMEFI) at international level is campaigning hard for better safety and welfare of shipbreaking workers working at the world's largest and hazardous shipbreaking yard in India. Around 97% of the total work force at Alang-Sosiya are migrant workers from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Maharashtra. The COVID-19 situation triggered the massive exodus of shipbreaking workers, who suddenly found themselves without any means of livelihood. During this time, 63 ships were docked for the breaking, 12,000 workers were directly employed and around 10,000 workers involved in downstream industry. Mr Vidyadhar Rane, General Secretary of ASSRGWA said that while union support the government’s decision to put the country under a lockdown, however, union is actively coordinating with government agencies, employers association for betterment of workers and making sure, that no worker will lose employment and their livelihood. During the coronavirus pandemic, union urged the employers not to deduct the workers’ salaries and pay them full wages. General Secretary of ASSRGWA has also written a letter to the Chief Minister of Gujarat requesting him to provide support, such as provision of ration and PPEs (Mask and sanitisers) etc.
As a result of the union’s intervention, the workers’ wages were paid for the month of March 2020 including lockdown days and employers have promised that they will also pay the full wages for the month of April 2020 with the understanding that as soon as the lockdown is lifted, workers are expected to return to their respective jobs. . The union formed a task force on COVID 19 to collect a total number of workers and families those are residing in ship breaking area and needs immediate support/relief during the pandemic.
And on 6 April 2020, with the support of government authorities the supply of essential grains and necessities were organized. Officials from the District Magistrate and SDM office Bhavnagar, Official from the Revenue Department, Port officer Alang, Safety officers of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), representative from the SRIA along with the ASSRGWA Union Task Force (consisting of 35 office bearers and activists) made necessary arrangements on nine plots in Alang and Sosiya, (on one plot around 800-1400 people) and distributed these ration kits to shipbreaking and shipbreaking downstream workers and their family members. Around 10,700 workers and their families received aid to curb the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The support given by the ASSRGWA to the workers and members of their family at entire Alang shipbreaking yard has given a strong message of solidarity. The ASSREGWA could give a confidence and faith to the government authorities that during such a critical time we all stakeholders are together. The COVID-19 crisis is not a war but it is ‘war-like’ situation and it requires the mobilization and direction of resources. Solidarity between stakeholders and a readiness to make sacrifices for the common goal – protecting workers and their livelihood. Union stand united in the fight against coronavirus pandemic and its aftereffects. A global pandemic needs global solutions, we are determined, attentive and active, that we will overcome this virus, our task will be to contribute, through social dialogue and cooperation initiatives. We stand with our members and workers at large in these difficult times.
To ensure workers' health and safety when the yards reopen, the union is demanding:
* Regular fumigation of yards
* No new ships should be allowed to beach
* A thermal gun should be used for temperature checks
* Necessary sanitation and hygiene kits should be distributed
* Medical facilities and immediate health care should be made available
* Only production process at an initial stage and it should be done by strictly observing social distancing
* All workers should be given the opportunity to work by rotation and there should be no deduction of agreed wages
* The payment of wages, including the lockdown period, should be paid to all workers who were on duty before the lockdown period at the declared rate
* There should be no wage deductions
This is a time for solidarity and unity, the efforts are on and there is a tough time ahead. The ASSRGWA is always with the workers and together will stand strong.