In a move which will help the Opposition parties ahead of the elections, all central trade unions, except the Sangh Parivar’s Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, have decided to campaign against the BJP.
A convention of all trade unions and other independent workers held here on Tuesday has adopted a workers’ charter of demands which will be placed before the political parties during this campaign.
‘A weapon to defeat BJP’
The Trade Unions (TUs) will also hold meetings at factory gates and public places at various constituencies against the BJP candidates. The one-day convention has resolved to “overthrow” the Narendra Modi government and to use the charter of demands as a weapon to defeat the BJP. The convention said the Modi government failed to deliver on the promises made during the 2014 polls.
“The convention is meant to keep in clear focus the issues of toiling people, and not allow the pro-corporate forces to cheat them again in the name of whipped up non-issues,” a statement by the TUs said.
The convention urged political parties to ensure that the national minimum wage is fixed as per the recommendations of the 15th Indian Labour Conference and Supreme Court’s judgment in the Raptakos and Brett case.
“Abolish the contract labour system in perennial [permanent] jobs. Pending which strictly implement equal wage and benefits to contract workers doing the same job as permanent workers as per the Supreme Court judgment,” the convention demanded.
Other demands
It said the minimum support price for produce should be decided as per the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and the public procurement system must be strengthened. Loan waiver to farmers and institutional credit for the small and marginal farmers; a comprehensive legislation covering social security and working conditions for all workers; checking unemployment on a war footing; a minimum pension of ₹6,000 per month; and indexed pension to all are the other demands of the trade unions.
They have urged the political parties to recognise workers employed in different government schemes. Other demands include immediate recall of ‘fixed-term employment’, stoppage of disinvestment/strategic sale of public sector undertakings, revival of important PSUs and restoration of the old pension scheme.
Maternity benefits
“Stop anti-worker and pro-employer amendments to the labour laws and codifications. Ensure strict implementation of the existing labour laws. Implement paid maternity leave of 26 weeks, and maternity benefit and crèche facilities for women workers. No incentive to be given to employers who are not following the amended provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act as proposed by the government,” the TUs demanded.
They have also called for strict measures to stop the practice of manual scavenging and have sought protection of street vendors with a new set of rules.