Sir,
Sir,
I am writing to support the call of the CGPI expressed in the article “Rajasthan government amends labour laws: Unite against the attacks on labour rights!” carried in the July 1-15, 2014 issue of MEL, in response to the proposals from the BJP’s Vasundhara Raje Scindia Government to enact far reaching amendments to existing labour protection laws. Thanks to the overwhelming majority that the BJP enjoys in the Assembly, there is little doubt that what has now been promulgated as an ordinance will be passed into law. This exercise is meant to be a test case of the willingness of the people of India, especially the organized working classes, to accept the upcoming era of austerity and belt-tightening for the working people, with loss of basic rights won through generations of struggle and sacrifice, with a concomitant growth in profits for investors, capitalists, also known as the big bourgeoisie. There will be keen interest, since successive Governments at the Centre have not been able to pass such far reaching legislation, in an effort to make various sections of the Indian economy market and investment friendly.
Needless to say, these draconian measures will be couched in fancy phrases of `growth’ and `development’, which in reality means growth and development of hunger, famine and suffering for the masses. It is heartening to know from the article that workers’ organizations and trade unions across the country have condemned the proposed amendments and have demanded their immediate withdrawal. One might say that these proposed amendments are a logical continuation of the discredited policies of the bourgeoisie whose machinations are there for everyone to see. I understand from the article that the proposed amendments may be summarized in the following bullet points:
Increase of the limit 300 from the existing 100 employees for establishments to obtain permission of the Government before retrenchment, lay off or shut down,
Union membership for recognition to be raised to 30% from the existing 15%,
Establishment of a 3 year limit for resolution of disputes between management and workers,
To remove the requirement for registration of establishments that employ less than 40 workers.
As mentioned in the article and alluded to earlier, the aim of all this is to create an attractive environment for big Indian capitalist investors, as well as international financiers through FDI as well as through the establishing of SEZs. Life experience has shown that these create abysmal conditions for the working people and their families and dependents.
The activities of the Rajasthan Government must be fought tooth and nail. Let this be the test case for forging the unity of the working class to defeat the nefarious aims of the bourgeoisie. In thanking you for carrying this important and informative article, which has been written in simple and powerful language, with useful examples and explanations, I would like to endorse the message in the article and would like to call on all to unite in face of this bourgeois offensive.
Sincerely,
S. Nair, Kochi