The Catholic Church in the State has decided to expand its work among the labourers, especially among the unorganised sector. The labour-related activities would be taken up through the Kerala Labour Movement (KLM), affiliated to the Workers India Federation (WIF), an organisation launched by the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), in May last year.
In a pastoral letter signed by Bishop Jose Porunnedom, chairman of the Labour Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Conference (KCBC), to be read out on Sunday, May 1, the Church authorities pointed out that the presence of central trade unions in the unorganised sector was almost nil. Moreover, the central trade unions showed an inclination to protect the interests of only those who had registered with them. While the labourers were often used as pawns for making political gains, various welfare measures initiated by the government remained out of their reach.
The pastoral letter notes that in Kerala, the central trade unions had ignored the segments like the sales persons working with shops, housemaids, immigrant labourers and marginal farmers. Many of these segments were marked by a predominant presence of women workers.
Focus on forums
The KLM would expand its presence to all dioceses and function as ‘workers facilitation centres' this year. The focus would be on setting up ‘forums' for various segments in the unorganised sector and bring the workers into the social security net. The functioning of Construction Workers Forum, House Workers Forum, Tailoring Workers Forum, Small Plantation Workers Forum, Shop Workers Forum and Motor Workers Forum would be expanded to all the dioceses. The workers so mobilised would be made members of the various social security schemes like Jansree Bima Yojna, Am Aadmi Bima Yojna, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, Swavalambhan Scheme and Universal Mediclaim Scheme.
While a highly heartening situation prevailed in the economy, which registered 8.6 per cent growth, the unprecedented price rise had made life miserable for the large number of people who were the primary labour class. This would keep them alienated from being beneficiaries of the economic growth the nation was enjoying, the letter said.
The letter traced the cause of price rise to dwindling productivity, increase in production costs and also the increase in black money in circulation in the economy. It also pointed to unnecessary strikes, ‘bandhs' and laziness among the causes of the crisis situation. While legitimate remuneration was the right of the labourers, it was wrong to impose charges without labour, the letter said referring to the prevalence of ‘nokku coolie' in the State.
The May Day Message this year would focus on creating decent work environments, the letter said and pointed out that one major impediment to achieving this goal was the failure to make collective bargaining as the labourers remain unorganised.
Bishops Joseph Karikkassery and Junanon Mar Chrysostum, both vice-chairmen of the KCBC Labour Commission, are also signatories to the pastoral letter.
