Members of the Tamil Nadu All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Construction Workers’ Association today urged that the nine-month maternity leave and other benefits accorded to Government staff, as announced by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa recently, be extended to them too.

The women members, who came to the Collectorate with concrete material, gravel stones and cement bricks on their heads, claimed that they were also eligible for the same benefits as per the Constitution.

“As per the Constitution and the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961, the nine months maternity leave with salary is applicable to women working in construction field also,” said a member.

“Construction workers suffer a lot during pregnancy time. They are forced to work for long hours. In many cases, our women undergo labour either at the construction site or while going for work,” another member said.

They further demanded that the maternity fund given by Construction Workers’ Welfare Board be increased. They alleged that the present amount of Rs. 6000 was not being provided on time and in most cases only half the amount was given.

“We request her to kindly address our demands at the earliest,” they said and submitted a petition to the District Collector, T.N. Hariharan.