Trade unions miffed over not inviting INTUC to labour conference

NEW DELHI: The government has not invited the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) for the forthcoming 47th Session of Indian Labour Conference (ILC), evincing sharp reaction from 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs).

Ravi S. Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 12

The government has not invited the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) for the forthcoming 47th Session of Indian Labour Conference (ILC), evincing sharp reaction from 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs).

The development has raised the spectre of their possible boycott of the event.

The unions concerned, including INTUC, met to discuss agenda points relating to the two-day conference, commencing here on February 26, and other related issues.

Subsequently, they shot off a joint letter to Union Minister for Labour Santosh Gangwar on government’s alleged arbitrary approach.

The unions are AITUC, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC and INTUC.

They described government’s move of selective approach against INTUC as “politically vindictive”.

They underlined to Gangwar that they had earlier recorded their opposition to such “discriminatory treatment” against INTUC.

As per government’s verification of membership numbers for the purpose of recognition of unions concerned in 2002, INTUC was emerged as the second biggest union after RSS affiliate BMS.

During the meeting, the union leaders also questioned the government’s departure from the earlier practice of issuing a common list of invitees (unions) for meetings.

AITUC secretary Vidya Sagar Giri said the government now sends the invitation to unions individually. This is an effort to create wedge among the unions, he added.

The unions are also miffed at the government’s apathy on recommendations of the 43rd, 44th and 45thand 46th conferences.

They include (a) formulation of Minimum Wages; (b) on same wages and benefit for same work as regular workers for contract labour; and (c) on recognition of scheme workers as “workers” with statutory minimum wages and social security rights.

They injected cautionary note in the letter that the ILC is “being reduced to a mockery raising question whether trade unions should become a party to it at all”.