Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, while inaugurating the 44th Session of the Indian Labour Conference on 15th February focussed mainly on two issues, the need to suitably change the Labour Laws and on the equal provision for women workers.

On the change of labour laws he stated as follows: “The view among investors and industry that the existing policies unduly protected the interests of the currently employed and hindered the creation of the new jobs.”   The  meaning of the above is very clear. The Prime Minister wants to restrict and reduce the rights of the workers won  through sustained struggles should be reduced to suit the interests of the employers and corporates on the number of working days and working hours, social security measures, wages etc. The Prime Minister by new employment is hinding at recruiting more contract workers instead of regular workers. The statement is only the continuation of implementation of the neo-liberal policies of the government. It is completely anti-worker and has to be resisted.

Second point the PM focussed was on women workers. He stated, “We would need to make provision for part-time work (for women) which would have the same characteristics as in full-time employment (for women). If this requires legislative changes, we should be prepared to do so and begin working on a blueprint for making this a reality.” What the PM stated is understandable. But what is happening in the country? Not only it is very difficult for the women to get a job, but even those who got jobs are being denied their genuine rights. Though the government has declared child care leave etc. for women employees, it is mostly not implemented. In BSNL, the management has denied this right to the women workers. Even after taking the issue in the Parliament and to the Communications Minister, nothing is done. In the privatised public sector companies, ladies are being retrenched on the plea that women workers takes more leave etc. Even the basic amenities like rest room, toilets etc. are not separately provided to the women workers in many institutions. It is not the job of the prime minister to preach, but he has to implement the things. He has got the power as Prime Minister. Why he is not doing this responsibility?

Further, the main agenda of the 44th session of ILO were (i) Minimum Wages, (ii) Social Security and (iii) Employability and Employment etc. But the Prme Minister did not give any assurance on these matters. All the representatives of the Central Trade Unions like INTUC, BMS, AITUC, CITU etc. strongly demanded that the minimum wages should be increased to Rs.10,000 but there was no positive response from the government or the employers. In the same way with the social security measures. Comrade Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU lambasted the employers and the government for not implementing even the existing minimum wages and also non-implementation of the labour laws.

It is for the working class to struggle and win the demands pending for a very long time. The 28th December Strike is an opportunity to show the government that the workers are determined to get achieved their genuine demands. We shopuld foil the attempts of the government and employers to encroach upon our rights.