Govt fails to sell pro-corporate labour policies to workers

The Prime Minister’s meeting followed an extensive consultations which the trade union leaders held with an inter-ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Emerging out of the meeting, trade union leaders said that the Prime Minister had not given any assurance and hence they would go ahead with their September 2 nationwide strike in support of their 12-point charter of demands.

“The Prime Minister heard the views of the trade union leaders on various issues of interest to workers, including in areas related to economic policy, and related laws,” an official statement said. Modi will inaugurate the Indian Labour Conference on Monday where Jaitley will be the guest of honour. Besides the union leaders, the tea-meeting hosted by Modi was also attended by the inter-ministerial panel members Jaitley, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh.

Talking to reporters after the hour-long meeting, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said, “They listened to us. They did not tell us anything. We made it very clear that the Govt is moving in a unilateral way... There is no assurance or anything from them. Therefore our stand for strike on September 2 stands. All trade unions are unanimous on this and will remain united.” Dasgupta said that the trade unions would oppose disinvestment and the government’s move to change labour laws as it would hurt the interest of workers.

Echoing similar sentiments, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) general secretary Tapan Sen said that the trade unions would oppose changes in labour laws and other anti-worker policies of the government. “The labour law amendments of the government will impose slavery on workers,” Sen added. Besides CITU and AITUC leaders, the meeting was attended by representatives of All India United Trade Union Centre, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Hind Mazdoor Sangh, INTUC, Labour Progressive Federation, National Front of Indian Trade Unions, Self-Employed Women’s Association, Trade Union Coordination Centre and United Trade Union Congress.

The 12-point charter of demands include measures to contain price-rise, ban on speculative trade in commodity markets, reducing unemployment, strict enforcement of labour laws, universal social security cover, hiking minimum wages to Rs 15,000 per month and assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month. The demands also include stoppage of disinvestment, equal benefits for contract workers, removal of ceiling for bonus, provident fund and compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days, and immediate ratification of all ILO Conventions.

Earlier, a meeting was attended by representatives of central trade unions and members of an inter-ministerial panel comprising Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh. 

“There is consensus on the issues of recognition of trade unions, (the) Bonus Act and matters related to social security of workers. There is gap (differences) on issues related to contract labour and minimum wages. Discussions are in progress on these issues,” Dattatreya told reporters after the meeting.

Trade union leaders, however, stressed that there was no consensus and they would go ahead with the planned nation-wide strike on September 2 to press for their demand. “There is no consensus or agreement on any issue. We have not come here with any expectation of having consensus on any issue with this government,” All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said, adding the issue of strike did not come up for discussion. 

“The issue of central trade unions’ call for a day-long strike on September 2 was not discussed so we have not responded on that. Our resolve to go ahead with the strike on September 2 has not changed,” Sachdev said.