Huge trade union march on India's Parliament

INDIA: A mammoth march on Parliament by 250,000 to 300,000 workers and trade union activists was staged in New Delhi on February 26, in continuation of an unrelenting struggle against the government’s new economic policies of liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation. All IMF affiliates from across India actively participated in this massive show of strength, which some described as “the best turnout ever”. Trade union leaders at the rally strongly condemned the government’s anti-labour policies and growing unemployment, warning that if the government did not respond positively to their demands, a further course of action was being mapped out for the near future. A joint trade union declaration contains the following demands:

• a halt to privatisation of profit-making, potentially viable public sector undertakings;
• no changes in labour laws in favour of employers and against workers’ interests;
• an immediate enactment of comprehensive legislation for agricultural workers;
• no to policies leading to severe aggravation of joblessness and unemployment;
• the widening of comprehensive social security schemes for all, including workers in the unorganised sector;
• restoration of quantitative restrictions on imports;
• the amendment of Payment of Bonus Act by removing all ceilings;
• restoration of the 12 per cent interest rate on providence fund deposits.