DECLARATION BY THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS

NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS

7^th September 2011   Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi

DECLARATION

The National Convention of Workers being held on 7^th September 2011 at Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi noted with serious concern that despite several rounds of all in united protests by the entire trade union movement of the country, the Govt has remained totally unresponsive to major concerns of the working people.

Practically no step has been taken by the Govt to address the basic demands of the workers being pressed through joint memorandum by the Central Trade Unions to honourable Prime Minister and the Lok Sabha Speaker and various other joint countrywide programmes.

Rather, aggressive moves are being taken to further aggravate the rise in prices through frequent hike in prices of petrol, Diesel, LPG and Kerosene.  Disinvestment of shares of Public Sector Units is being actively pushed through by the Govt to facilitate phased privatization of the highly profit-making PSUs. Existing labour rights including right to form union and to social security and pension are being sought to be curbed through various legislative and administrative moves.  Mass scale contractorisation of the regular work is continuing in all the workplaces including in PSUs and Govt. establishments.  Contract workers are not being paid in most of the places even the statutory minimum wages which is very low to meet the basic requirements for a human living.

The National Convention also expresses its serious concern over the flaring up of rampant corruption all around and huge black-money-generation in the economy and seeks to draw the attention of the Govt to the widespread popular discontent and disgust over the issue of corruption demanding concrete legislative and administrative measures and change in the economic policy regime to eradicate and prevent corruption and bring back the black money stashed abroad.

The National Convention calls upon the working people of the country to further widen the unity achieved through united struggle and launch united protest against the unresponsive approach of the Govt. through intensified countrywide struggles.

While reiterating the five point demand formulated jointly by the Central Trade Unions and Federations for (1) concrete measures to contain price rise (2) concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession/incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs, (3) Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws, (4) universal social security cover for the unorganized sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendation of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and (5) Stoppage of disinvestment in central and state PSUs, the National Convention of Workers also demands immediate action by the Govt of India to ensure:-

• No Contractorisation of work of permanent/perennial nature and till then payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry/establishment
• Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs.10,000/- per month with indexation
• Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; increase the quantum of gratuity
• Assured Pension for all
• Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions nos. 87 and 98

To press the above demands and to prepare for higher level of united action, the National Convention decides to hold Countrywide multiple forms of action such as SATYAGRAHA / JAIL BHARO, MASS SQUATTING etc. in all the state capitals and industrial centres on 8^th NOVEMBER, 2011.

The National Convention also calls upon all the trade unions and workers and employees in general irrespective of affiliations to hold state wise and industry wise conventions to make the above programme a total success and prepare for countrywide GENERAL STRIKE as early as possible in the next phase.

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