RSS-backed trade union says Modi govt causing 'extreme labour exploitation'

RSSaffiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh BMS will launch a nationwide agitation on Sep 6 against the Modi governments reforms that it says have led to extreme exploitation and harassment of the labour sector and led to increasing unemployment in the countryCK Saji Narayanan chief of one of the largest trade unions in the country told IANS that they would stage protests in all the districts demanding among other things scrapping of fixedterm employment which he said was destroying the labour sector Because of these socalled reforms contract labour has now become the default model of employment in India Today 67 per cent of the organised sector workers belong to this category The trend of contract labour system has increased with the elimination of permanent posts in private and public entities as well as government departments Narayanan saidHe said contract labour system had expanded rapidly creating shortage of permanent employees and making it a means of enhancing profit in the public sector We tried reasoning with the Labour Ministry several times but to no avail The fixedterm employment is not just leading to rapid expansion of contract labour but also resulting in increasing the number of new unemployed youthTherefore we have to stand up to face the Himalayan challenge to make contract labour exploitation free said Narayanan adding that the Sep 6 nationwide agitation was only the beginning of a long haul fight to address the issue of rampant labour exploitation in the country The Atal Bihari Vajpayeeled NDA government had first allowed hiring fixedterm workers in 2003 This was scrapped in 2007 by the Congressled UPA in 2007 following intense protests by trade unionsAfter coming to power the Modi government in April 2015 again mooted the concept by issuing draft rules for amending the Industrial Establishment Standing Order But the move was deferred following opposition from trade unions Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech this year announced extending the facility of fixed term employment applicable only in the apparel manufacturing sector to all sectorsSubsequently the Central government in March notified amending the Industrial Establishment Standing Order 1946 to extend the facility of hiring workers on fixedterm employment to all sectors Under the rules a fixedterm employment workman is one who has been engaged on the basis of a written contract of employment for a fixed periodThe new rules which provide that a temporary workman can be terminated without being given any notice of termination has been widely condemned by all trade unions and they have been demanding its rollback The BMS has been vociferous in deriding the governments labour and economic policies and stridently opposed many of the labour reforms which it says has led to continuous unrest among contract workers and increase in breakdown of industrial peaceApprehensive that the prevailing situation may lead to creation of new conditions of bonded labour the BMS at its recently concluded National Executive Committee Meeting adopted a resolution seeking immediate steps from the Centre to prevent open violations of labour laws Incidents in Maruti Udyog at Manesar Hyundai and Honda industries are vivid examples of the intense labour unrest There is huge resentment among the entire labour sector Unless steps are taken to resolve the issues the situation will only worsen warned NarayananHighlighting the plight of contract labour the BMS said these workers were denied any social security pension medical benefits gratuity and leave Besides being paid onefourth of a permanent workers wage they were even denied minimum wages especially in the nonscheduled employment The BMS wants regularization of contract labour amendment of relevant laws to secure equal pay for similar work and ensuring that contract workers were paid perks that permanent employees getAlso Read RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat To Deliver Major Address At World Hindu CongressCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever