Speech

Congress to Oppose Changes in Labour Laws

The Congress President’s speech at Indian National Trade Union Congress Conference (INTUC) in Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on March 6, 2002

I congratulate INTUC for raising their voice in favour of unorganized labour force through this conference. I am glad to join you and I welcome you all in Delhi.

The history of Congress labour movements goes back as far as Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha. Initially, AITUC was formed under his influence 27 years before independence and subsequently INTUC in 1947. It is the workers hand that contribute to the production in the form of crops and industries. They are the people who produce grains for the country, operate the industries and contribute in construction of buildings and bridges.

The governments and political parties should understand the value of your labour and should help you in your struggle and they should not use the labour movement for their political benefit. But we should also keep in mind that our struggle for rights should not impede the progress of our country. INTUC has always secured your welfare.

There is no doubt that INTUC is an organisation which works on Congress guidelines. It supports the party policies and programmes. But they are also independent in their workstyle in fighting for your rights. Our country today is facing serious crisis. Unlike others I don’t blame my opponents every now and then, but being the responsible opposition and largest political party, we are duty bound to raise our concerns for issues in the interest of the nation. Gujarat is one of the many incidents, which could have been averted. It has its impact over other parts of the country.

At this moment every citizen has to understand the culprit responsible for this carnage. Till what extent politics of hatred and violence will continue? My heart grieves for those thousands killed and perished. I feel there should be a mass movement against communalism. There should be strictest possible action against the conspirators of such incidents, howsoever big position they hold. People must decide about socially biased and incapable governments. I emphasize this, since the poor are the worst hit by the violence and riots. The poor supports his family and for this he depends on his daily wages. It is he who bears the brunt. Whereas communal politics is venomous for society, for poor it is the death knell. The poor and working class does not belong to any particular caste or community, earning their bread with hard work and honesty is their primary task. Violence, killings, communal bandhs first strike on their livelihood. Without ensuring peace and harmony in our society we cannot secure the welfare of workers.

Basically Congress party has emphasized on unity and harmony, we don’t consider society in terms of castes and religion, yet we are proud for Indian social diversity. Alongwith this Congress party worked for the welfare and progress of weaker sections of society. We learnt to give a helping hand to the poor from the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indiraji and Rajivji. All the laws favourable to workers were made during Congress rule. Now we hear of changes being made in those laws and worker-unions are apprehensive of the adverse effect on your rights. We will not support any such unfavourable changes.

You are associated with different works related to construction of buildings and bridges, woodworks and jungles. Possibly you might be doing agriculture, etc., and many of you might be artisans and artists. These workers constitute the largest unorganized sector and perhaps with biggest problems. To some extent organized workers succeed in their struggles for rights through their unions. Although they are facing several challenges. Since established public sector companies are being privatised, thousands of workers are losing their jobs. I feel your problem needs to be discussed at the national level. Laws should be implemented properly, specially for women workers. In the absence of required training, you don’t get proper wages. To tackle this problem good training institutes should be started all over the country to impart training so that working class can contribute to the progress of this country effectively. I hope INTUC will make efforts in this direction.

Finally, I appeal to the Congress leaders to bring under INTUC those worker unions which are not directly associated with INTUC and INTUC should welcome them warm-heartedly. I don’t see any major difficulty in this. If everybody is prepared to spread and affirm the Congress ideology and wants to make our nation run on the path of progress plus worker’s welfare, they all must stand united. I assure my full cooperation to INTUC.