Legal help sought for migrants arrested from Kizhakkambalam
The Hindu
Unions demand immediate steps from company, govt.
New Trade Union Initiative and Progressive Workers’ Organisation have alleged that the authorities failed to ensure the legal rights and social protection norms of the nearly 174 persons arrested in connection with the clashes between migrant workers engaged by Kitex Garments and the police on December 25 night.
The representatives of the unions demanded immediate steps on the part of the government and the company management to provide legal help to the arrested, who belonged to States that include Jharkhand, Odisha, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, West Bengal and Assam.
“We request the intervention of the government, State Human Rights Commission and the Legal Services Authority as they have been languishing in jail for the last one month after being charged under non-bailable offences,” said M. Sreekumar, president of New Trade Union Initiative, and George Mathew, chairperson of Progressive Workers’ Organisation.