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New Delhi
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has intervened with the Union Government to a complaint to it by the Central Trade Unions (CTUs) to ensure proper implementation of the labour laws, but they have approached it yet again jointly seeking it intercede with greater force.
The move to internationalise the development within the country by the unions, which are dominated by the Left-leaning and anti-BJP outfits, is bound to raise concerns in the government quarters.
The unions’ insistence with the world panel, especially the timing of it in the context of geopolitical developments of the Indo-China direct face-off at borders, will rankle within the establishment.
India has just assumed the chairmanship of the executive board of the WHO, which is pressing for probe in the provenance and spread of COVID-19, with China in the eye of the storm.
Many believe that China was trying to wriggle out from the corona issue by trying to deflect attention by the way of aggressive posturing through red-herrings.
Even while the dust is yet to settle on the controversy over the unions, the first attempt to internationalise labour issues comes the second complaint to the ILO with the more caustic tone, which is bound to fuel sharper debate in the matter.
“With all above quotes of the Constitution of India and the ILO decision, we feel that at this very turbid and uncertain situation, the ILO must powerfully and effectively intervene to prevail upon the Government of India to refrain from such exercise of abrogation of all basic labour rights unilaterally trampling underfoot the basic concept of social partnership and tripartism as espoused by the ILO,” the unions said in their complaint to the office of the director-general (DH) of the Geneva-based ILO.
In response to the first letter dated May 14, office of ILO’s DG informed the unions on May 22 that the latter had “intervened” with the Union Government and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “send a clear message to the states” to adhere to the country’s international commitment.
Another highlight of the DG’s intimation to the union is that he had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “encourage engagements in affective social dialogue” — a line which appears to be discursive and ambiguous in the context of labour issues.
Apparently unsatisfied by the response, the unions urged the ILO for intervention with greater ballast.
These unions include the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), the All-India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), the Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), the All-India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and the United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).
