Newsclick Image by Nitesh Kumar
An
estimated 3 lakh workers from across the country are preparing to
travel to Delhi on 9-11 November 2017 for a massive show of strength and
anger at hostile govt. policies. This will be the biggest such protest -
popularly known as a ‘maha-padav’ - in the Capital in decades and comes
as a culmination of years of discontent and repeated betrayal by the
govt. in considering increase of wages, protection of jobs and provision
of basic rights like affordable food, healthcare and education.
Working people’s anger against the
present govt. appears to be coming to a boil with the 30 October
torchlight protests by the joint platform of farmers, agricultural
labourers, trade unions and various civil society groups preceding the
maha-padav and a giant march to Parliament by farmers following it.
After the massive workers’ march to
Parliament in December 2013, there have been two countrywide general
strikes in 2015 and 2016 on these demands, besides militant strike
actions by coal, steel, port, transport, tea estates workers, and a
series of protests by anganwadi workers/helpers, ASHAs, mid day meal
workers, etc. Govt. employees too have been on the war path with several
actions in the recent past.
The call for this November’s
unprecedented protest has been given jointly by all central trade unions
of the country except the one associated with the ruling BJP. Most big
federations of employees like steel, coal, port and dock etc. as well as
bank, insurance and govt. employees are also participating. An
important contingent of the protest is what are called ‘scheme workers’ –
over 50 lakh workers, mostly women, employed by the govt. to run
diverse govt. schemes like anganwadis, mid day meals for schools,
healthcare delivery workers etc.
In the run up to the maha-padav,
industrial areas, offices, commercial complexes and workers’ colonies
across the country have been witnessing an electrifying campaign of
mobilization by the trade unions and federations. Public meetings,
dharnas, processions have been held and all reports indicate that there
is huge support for the move that will pose a big challenge to the Modi
govt. at the Centre.
Some of the key demands in the workers 12-point demand charter include:
National minimum wage of Rs.18,000:
currently, statutory wages in the vast small and medium sector range
between Rs.8000-Rs.12,000, with some areas like Delhi having a higher
wage. But most of this is on paper as employers refuse to implement laws
and govt. refuses to penalize them for violations. With zooming prices,
prevailing minimum wages are a fraction of what is needed for a life of
dignity. Contract workers are even worse off getting half of what
regular employees get, without any other protection.
Control rising prices and PDS:
Any measly rise in wages is washed away by ever rising prices of food
items, healthcare and education, among other things. Relief in the form
of a universal and robust public distribution system has been scuppered
by govt.’s attempts to weaken and dilute the existing system. Workers
are demanding strong punitive action against hoarders and black
marketeers of food items like pulses and vegetables, inclusion of all
essential items under PDS with controlled prices, and a universal
coverage of the PDS to include every family.
Prevent rising unemployment:
Joblessness is at a decade high, aggravated by throwing out of workers
from various units in IT, steel, and other sectors and the slowdown
caused by the note-bandi and GST double whammy. This is being used to
depress wages, and also poses a threat of rising diversion by RSS-BJP in
to divisive activities like communalism or caste based agitations.
Workers are demanding a complete overhaul of policies to spur
industrialization and protect existing jobs.
Social Security:
Indian workers continue to be one of the most deprived in terms of
social security benefits like healthy coverage, provident fund,
retirement pension, unemployment benefits, accident benefits and
compensation, etc. Workers are demanding universal coverage under a
state umbrella, not through profit gouging private insurance companies.
Protection of Labour Laws:
In order to prevent workers from organizing and protesting, and
equally, to ensure unbridled exploitation and profit making by their
employers, changes are being made in existing labour laws. Included are
ket changes to ease hiring and firing of workers. This comes in the
context of vociferous demands by industrialist bodies for such changes.
The protesting workers are demanding that while rolling back these
changes, govt. should actually strengthen the labour law implementation
machinery and protect small, unorganized sector workers also.
End to privatization:
The govt. has been going ahead with disinvestment of public sector
assets by selling off shares to private parties, often cronies of the
ruling politicians. Besides being open loot of national assets, this
inevitably means an attack on workers through job losses or insecurity,
wage freezes and general deterioration of working conditions.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Newsclick.
Source : https://newsclick.in
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