Activities of ASSRGWA at Alang

Activities of ASSRGWA at Alang

The ASSRGWA has been very activitly and consistenly involved in carrying out a number of activities. These activities include:
1. Documenting the pathetic working and living conditions of workers. Also, making documentaries produced by the Union titled as “Into the Graveyard”, “The Wire Nest”, “ECHOS of Shipbreaking” and “Buss Thodisi Savdhani” is an instruction film in Hindi and in regional languages.

2. The Union has also represented in Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) constituted by the Government of India for the purpose of overall supervision on the implementation program in pursuance of order dated 06.09.2007 passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The important issues of ship breaking workers were brought to the notice of IMC. The Chairman of IMC took serious note of these issues and assure to resolve the same.

3. Every year the Union organises a number of meetings at Alang and the participation of workers has been quite encouraging as they participate in a very large scale and with whole hearted participation from the members of this association as well as members of their families.

4. Social Security Measures were undertaken by the Union. For example: Implementation of ESI Scheme in Alang. The Union also took initiative to provide with universal Account Number by which workmen can make use of the facilities of PF, ESIS, Adhar Card, Bank A/c and Insurance.

5. Housing for all has been the mantro of the Union. As per the persistence liaison with government authority by the union to provide residential place GMB has taken initiative to construct worker's colony to provide dormitory accommodation. On around 1000 ship breaking workers with provision of potable drinking water and sanitation

6. The Union received a number of delgations at its Alang Office. For example: The visit of of National Human Rights Commission at Alang. The Chairman of NHRC Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India visited Alang on 25th May 2014, along with his team and expressed their solidarity with workers.

7. Inclusion of ship breaking industry in the Scheduled of Minimum Wages Act Because of union's efforts the ship breaking industry has been included in the Schedule of Minimum Wages Act by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Govt. of Gujarat. The provisions of MW Act are now applicable to ship breaking industry.

8. New Code for ship-breaking Industry in India – Law of the land Based on a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the Union Ministry of Steel has issued a new indigenous code for ship-breaking to be followed in India. India is the only country amongst the shipbreaking countries who have such a code. The Union has suggested the Government of India to strengthen the code.

9. A safety manual has also been prepared and circulated among the workers for their orientation about safety measures.