How do you see the state of trade unions in India? What are the core issues that result in agitation and unrest?
A. In any economy – be it capitalist or a socialist – the primary productive force is the people who create wealth and surplus value. Trade unions in India have a long history. Madras Labour Union was the first that was founded in 1918 and even leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Bal Gangadhar Tilak were associated with the trade union movement.
In India, we have multiple trade unions – AITUC, CITU, Ceramic and Allied Trades Union (left trade unions) and BMS, HMS, INTUC (central trade unions). There are federations such as All India Bank Employees Association, All India Electricity Workers Federation, Defence Employees Federation.
Since 1990, there has been a conscious attack on trade unions, with attempts to restrict their rights and also curb their legitimate functioning. The issues which agitated workers are:
1. Contract labour system: There is a high demand for contract labourers across sectors, but they are paid very less as compared to regular workers. The contract labour system is opposed mainly because employees need job security.
2. Registration and recognition of trade unions: Industry must acknowledge the functioning of trade unions for peaceful and harmonious functioning. The management should also acknowledge its legitimacy. There should be labour laws which give them registration and recognition. In the post-liberalisation period, relevance of trade unions has become more important, where every individual requires some mechanism to negotiate, to settle his or her problems and redressal of their concerns.
3. Minimum wages: All international labour organisations have recommended higher wages. Indian trade unions have demanded at least INR 10,000 as minimum. The decline in real wages occurs when the value of rupee declines steadily, with rise in prices of commodity and hence increase in inflation. That is why minimum wages act must be implemented. Click here to read full interview...
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