The Hindu : INTUC opposes Kerala's Labour Policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 06, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

INTUC opposes Kerala's Labour Policy

By Girish Menon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 5. The pro-Congress INTUC has become the first opponent of the Antony Government's Labour Policy in Kerala, especially the proposed Kerala Extortionary, Intimidatory and Unlawful Labour Practices (Prevention) Bill, touted as a pro-investor confidence- building legislation.

The INTUC's opposition to the proposed Bill, due to be piloted in the Assembly during the last week of July, will be a strong blow to the Antony Government which has been straining at its seams to project a pro-investor image to attract investments, including FDI, to help it achieve the Rs. 50,000-crore investment target it has set for itself during the 10th Five Year Plan.

The decision to oppose the proposed Bill was taken at a leadership meeting of the INTUC State working committee held here the other day.

The committee demanded the withdrawal of the proposed Bill, besides authorising senior trade union leaders, Palode Ravi, the INTUC National Working Committee Member, K. Suresh Babu, the INTUC State president, Varkala Kahar and the State vice- president, V. P. Joy to petition the Chief Minister, the senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, the KPCC president, K. Muralidharan, and the UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, to withdraw the Bill, which has become a prestigious affair for the Antony Government.

The INTUC leaders have decided to mobilise opinion among the UDF MLAs by briefing them about the INTUC's position.

Senior leaders met the Labour Minister, Babu Divakaran, and appealed to him to go slow on the Bill.

The INTUC has convened a meeting of its State working committee on July 9 to chart out a blueprint for its future course of action.

Significantly, the meeting is being held ahead of the UDF-sponsored conference of trade unions.

The INTUC apprehends that the provisions of the Bill will lead to the intervention of police in labour dispute.

It feels that police interference in labour disputes will not be a healthy practice.

The INTUC feels that unhealthy labour practices would be tackled better if the scope of the existing Kerala Headload Workers Act, which is now in force in some parts of the State, particularly urban centres, is widened.

The Antony Government has been banking on the proposed Bill to project its pro-investor image.

In fact, it has showcased the legislation in its numerous road shows, currently on in the U.S. and planned to be organised in Europe and West Asia.

The legislation is being cited as proof enough of the Government's sincerity in tackling labour problems to boost investor confidence.

The INTUC's opposition should be worrying for another reason as it provides enough ammunition for the Opposition trade unions such as the CITU, AITUC and the BMS to sharpen the edge of their resistance.

Opposition Leaders like V. S. Achuthanandan and others have already made it clear that they are not much impressed by the Government's legislation.

The INTUC's position has inducted an ideological element in the Congress and the Government it leads.

It signals that it will not be smooth sailing for the Antony Government as it embarks on its pro-reform agenda, which is already running late.

It is sure to run into more trouble when it finally takes up power sector reforms and public sector restructuring, including disinvestment proposals that find a place in the mid-term financial restructuring programme.

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