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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Trade unions call nationwide strike on September 2 to protest againt amendments in labour laws

 Central trade unions today said they will go on one-day nationwide strike on September 2 to protest against unilateral amendments in labour laws and the governments' indifference towards their 12-points charter of demands. 

At the National Convention, they gave the call for all India general strike on September 2, 2016 under their joint declaration. 

Leaders of the central trade unions including INTUC, AITUCHMSCITUAIUTUCTUCC,SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF participated in the convention and signed the joint declaration. 

However, RSS backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh did not turn up for the convention and is not part of the declaration. 

The unions have asked their members to organise a day- long mass Dharna/Satyagraha in state capitals and industrial centres on August 9 (Quit India Day) ahead of the Strike. 

They have also decided to organise joint conventions and campaigns in June-July in states, districts and at industry level and take initiative to involve peasants, agriculture labour and mass of the people in the campaign. 

According to declaration, totally ignoring the united opposition of the workers, the government has been moving fast to demolish existing labour laws thereby empowering the employers with unfettered rights to "hire and fire" and stripping the workers and trade unions of all their rights and protection provided in laws. 

"As follow up to the PMO's written communication to the Chief Secretaries of States, states are bing directed to carry out Rajasthan type pro-management amendments in labour laws. The Labour Secretary has issued executive order on January 12, 2016 granting exemption to so called start-up Enterprises from inspection and application of 9 major labour laws, thereby legitimizing violations," it said. 

Unions also expressed their reservations against proposed Small Factories Bill which provides that major 14 labour laws will not apply to factories employing up to 40 workers. 

Similarly, they opposed that Labour Code on Wages Bill and Labour Code on Industrial Relations Bill saying that "under the cover of amalgamation, these bills seek to make registration of unions almost impossible, making retrenchment and closure almost free for the employers class." 

"These bills have been put in public domain totally ignoring the trade unions thereby violating the provisions of ILO Convention 144 on tripartite consultation. All these amendments are meant to exclude 90 per cent of workforce from application of labour laws thereby allowing the employers to further squeeze and exploit the workers," it said.

Source:-The Economic Times

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