BMS to counter MNCs8217; aggression

VADODARA, June 25: The Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh will launch a nationwide campaign against economic aggression''from the multinational compa...

VADODARA, June 25: The Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh will launch a nationwide campaign against 8220;economic aggression8221;from the multinational companies from September 17 to October 2, according to national vice president Keshav Thakker.

The BMS which is the majority union in the nation will launch a campaign to scrap primacy of the World Trade Organisation WTO which Thakker alleged had in effect strangulated the indigenous industries which had led to large scale unemployment.

The union, he said, had opposed the GATT at every forum from its inception. They plan to create an awareness against the WTO amongst the people even in the rural areas. The union will pressurise the present government to reverse the ratification of GATT. He did not rule out vandalism as a form of protest, when reporters asked him to comment on the recent acts of vandals in Rajkot and Ahmedabad.

Opening up the markets following liberalisation, alleged Thakker had led to closure of 4.5 million industrial units and rendered millions unemployed.

Briefing the press here on Thursday soon after his return from the 86th session of the International Labour Organisation ILO in Geneva, Thakker alleged that the developed countries used this forum to exploit the developing countries through the WTO. The Union Labour secretary Laxmidhar Mishra and representative of the Permanent Mission, HK Singh had opposed the developed country8217;s stand of imposing the 8220;social clause8221; and also social labelling every product exported had to carry a label of the kind of labour which manufactured it, child labour, women etc.

State Labour Minister Ashok Bhatt represented the State ministers while the Indian labour delegation led by BMS President Venugopal, had 5 members from the central trade unions of INTUC, AITUC, HMS, the Labour minister Jatiya Labour Secretary and the bureaucracy whereas the employers delegation included 5 representatives from employers association including FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, etc, said the union leader. Thaker said that the social clause which discussed contract labour, child labour, bonded labour etc was very controversial. There was a sharp divide of interests between the developed and the developing countries attending the meet. The delegates could not reach a consensus regarding abolition of contract labour and postponed it to the next session. The clash of interests between the employers and labour representatives on several issues was another dimension.

Child labour became a contentious issue. There was a consensus that it should be eradicated but in a phased manner. The delegates spoke of rehabilitating bonded labour.

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Thakker said that they had pressed upon the Indian government to start a Labour Cell to enable coordination within the various groups to represent the cause of labour.

The ILO session also passed provisional resolution regarding employment of youth.