If the Government of India does not hold bilateral discussion with farmers now holding a dharana in New Delhi, then workers, unemployed youths and students will join the farmers movement and the Government will be responsible for all consequences, threatened former Rajya Sabha MP, INBCWWF president and INTUC national vice president Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia in his opening address at a workshop here.

 CITU president Janardan Pati, AICCTU president Radhakanta Sethi, former MLA and HMS leader BK Das, Niranjan Mohanty from AITUC, former Executive Director Nalco Amiya Pattnaik, CEO Indo Gernam Focal Point BK Sahoo, Madan Mohan Dhal, Shyam Sundar Mohapatra, Prasant Mohapatra, Khirod Ojha and Pranati Mishra strongly condemned the Central Government policy on peasants and workers and strongly opposed the implementation of the three farm Acts, labour Act, besides privatisation of the Neelachal Ispat Nigam.

The seminar also strongly opposed the policy of Central Government on migrant labour and a circular by the MEA for referral minimum wages which is less than the present minimum wages in Kuwait, Baharin, Soudi Arbia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. With effort of BWI, ITUC and ILO Qatar, the Government has abolished the Kafala System and allowed the workers to change the employer. They have fixed the minimum wages 1000 Katar dollars.

Whereas, as per the Government of India referral minimum wages for Katar is 200 US Dollar which is equivalent to 800 Katar Dollars. The  recent circular issued by MEA reducing  minimum referral wages by 30 to 50% is a cause of concern as wages of lakhs of migrants workers reduced.

The workshop strongly demanded to withdraw the referred minimum wages circular of MEA. Khuntia wrote a letter to the MEA to  immediately withdraw the circular. The seminar also unanimously demanded the voting right  of  inter-State and international migrant  labourers through the postal ballet.