CITU looks to breach infotech sector firewall

The plan will be taken up at CITU’s general council meeting to be held in Ranchi in July. ‘‘To take up IT sector problems, we had no other option but this. We have almost reached to the point of formation of the union,’’ CITU president M K Pandhe said.

CITU’s efforts at unionising IT sector employees have so far been unsuccessful, in much the same way as similar efforts by other trade union bodies.

But CITU decided not to give up the issue. After a note to the Labour Ministry last year demanding a change in the working conditions of IT employees got no response, it found ways to enter the industry. There are now relatives of party colleagues, apart from other ‘‘contacts’’, who regularly give a feedback on industry happenings to CITU bosses.

Expectedly, their names are being kept secret but the feedback is being collated and will form the basis for a comprehensive proposal for changes in IT industry working conditions.

No state or company will be spared, said Pandhe. ‘‘We are getting involved even in Bengal where not all labour laws are applied to the IT sector, like late working hours and different wages for the same job,’’ he said.

CITU does not immediately intend to play moral police, but some demands already in place include three eight-hour shifts for employees, a uniform criteria for wages (same pay for same work) and greater safety for women workers.