135,000 workers of the cement industry are planning to go on a countrywide strike on January 28, 2008 to press for their demands.

According to the trade unions, the Cement industry has garnered huge profits in the past two years. The demand of cement workers is for ad hoc relief to all the workers, both those who are regular and those employed as contract labour.

The All India Joint Action Forum of Cement Workers has accused the Cement manufacturers Association of negative response to the demands of the workers. Many cement giants are not implementing the provisions of the Cement Arbitration Awards and national level tripartite agreements in many of the plants, in respect of employment of contract labour and payment of equal wages for equal work. Contractualisation is being promoted to multiply profit while conditions of living of the workers are pitiable.

The Joint Action Forum has asked the government to intervene immediately to force the employers to concede their demands, failing which the strike will take place.