Unions lock horns over ILO delegate nomination

A battle has broken out between two trade unions over nominations a delegate to the 93rd annual International Labour Organisations conferenc...

A battle has broken out between two trade unions over nominations a delegate to the 93rd annual International Labour Organisations conference. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has decided to boycott the meet, protesting the Labour Ministry’s decision to nominate a delegate of the Indian Trade Union Congress, to the meet that starts form May 30.

With each country being represented by one delegate, advisors have been nominated from the other trade unions. Two BMS advisors were scheduled to attend the meeting.

BMS president Girish Awasthi said, ‘‘We were given a letter on April 5 by the Labour Ministry that a delegate and an advisor from the BMS would be sent to the ILO meet. However, on April 27, it was decided the INTUC president would be the delegate. We expressed our protest by writing to the PM and the Labour Minister and sought time with both, which has not yet been given.’’

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According to convention, the government should appoint the delegate from the trade union that has the largest membership.

Both unions have been claiming membership figures in the neighbourhood of 80 lakhs. The latest figures are formalised only after verification by the Central Labour Commissioner, which is yet to be done.

INTUC says during the last elections to the governing body of the ILO, BMS represented India but did not contest as it is not affiliated to any of the international unions.

As a result of this, Malaysia got a seat on the governing body.

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INTUC secretary R.P.K. Murugesan says, ‘‘INTUC is affiliated to the International Conference of Free Trade Unions which has a considerable membership presence in the ILO. That would ensure that this year, India will win a seat on the governing body of the ILO which is very prestigious.’’

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