Staff Reporter
Movement will challenge UPA’s anti-labour policies, says Medha Patkar
Demands tabling of a comprehensive Bill
in this monsoon session of Parliament
Asks Government to spend five per cent of GDP to meet the needs of workers in this sector
NEW DELHI: Several non-government organisations, individuals and trade unions in coordination with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions organised a rally at Jantar Mantar here over the weekend demanding a comprehensive social security legislation for workers in the unorganised sector.
Addressing the workers and activists, from various parts of the country, Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar said the movement would challenge the anti-labour policies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre. The alliance of nearly 500 organisations and individuals under the consortium “Social Security Now” had raised hopes for protection of the interests of workers, peasants, displaced persons and self-employed workers, she added. Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav assured the workers that the issue would be raised in Parliament during the monsoon session. Civil rights activist Swami Agnivesh also lent his support to the cause. Later, representatives of the consortium submitted a memorandum pertaining to the demands at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Members of the consortium criticised the UPA Government for coming up with “charity” for the unorganised sector by constituting a National Advisory Board for unorganised workers. They demanded that a comprehensive Bill, incorporating employment regulation, livelihood protection and dispute resolution based on the principles of social justice, be tabled in Parliament during this monsoon session itself. By not bringing in such a Bill so far, they said, the UPA Government had gone back on the promise it made under the National Common Minimum Programme.
The speakers also demanded that the Government spend five per cent of the GDP towards meeting the needs of the workers in the unorganised sector as they contributed heavily in the country’s economy. Statutory “unorganised worker boards” at the Central and State levels should be established through proper legislation, they added.
“When there are nearly 40 crore workers in the unorganised sector contributing to 65 per cent of the GDP, why does the Government spend only one per cent of the GDP on them?” they asked.
