WFTO LETTER
TO INDIAN PRIME MINISTER
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WORLD
FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS
Athens, February
24, 2012
To:
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon. Prime Minister,
Government of India, New Delhi,
India
Dear
Mr. Prime Minister,
We address you this communication from the World Federation
of Trade Unions, the premier International Trade Union organization
representing workers in 120 countries from all the continents. Needless to
add that we also represent about 10 million workers in India encompassing major Central Trade Unions like AITUC and
CITU as well as TUCC, AICCTU, AIUTUC etc. besides number of workers in
various sectors and industries.
We
are concerned to write to you because we observe that the various economic
policies being pursued by Indian Government are adversely impacting the
living conditions and livelihood of the common masses of workers. We are
aware that India is a fast emerging economy in the world and its more than 400
million workers are a great human asset in shaping the country as a strong
and vibrant economy.
But
it is distressing and disappointing that the workers are being denied of
their legitimate and justified share out of the prosperity and progress. On
the other hand workers are confronted with problems of huge job losses,
retrenchments and lay-offs, underpayment of wages, elongated working hours,
denial of basic trade union rights, violation of labour statutes, outsourcing
and contractualsing regular jobs, denial of social security benefits, denial
of maternity benefits for women workers, exploitation of unorganized workers,
increased peril to jobs and job security, etc. In short workers are being
treated unfairly and without equity and justice.
It is also a matter of intrigue that while India is a
founder member of ILO, Resolutions like Conventions 87 and 48 relating to
right of association and organizing trade unions, etc. are yet to be ratified
by the Indian Government.
Further,
in the anxiety to pursue the policies of globalization and liberalization,
the welfare of workers is being ignored. Labour is said to be an equal
partner in development and progress but ostensibly, the scales are not held
evenly.
It
is in this situation, after repeatedly drawing the attention of the
Government to correct the situation and having failed to get any positive
outcome, the entire trade union movement and workers class of India has risen
as one man to register their stout opposition to these policies through a
General Strike on 28, February, 2012.
The
fact that all the Central Trade Unions have come together and jointly given
the call for the strike action itself is a pointer to the deteriorating
conditions of the labour class in India and the concern of the trade unions
to espouse their cause. It is expected that nearly 100 million workers will
be joining this protest action to press their 10 point charter of demands.
From
the World Federation of Trade Unions, we express our full support to the
working class of India and total solidarity with the trade unions who have
given the call for the strike. We urge upon the Government of India to
appreciate the genuine concerns of the trade unions and take all steps to
protect the interests of the workers and address the demands of the traded
unions.
Thanking
you,
Yours
sincerely
Sd/-
GEORGE
MAVRIKOS
GENERAL
SECRETARY
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