Date:20/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/20/stories/2005122020750400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Trade unions plan stir today

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Various trade unions will join hands to hold a nationwide agitation on Tuesday to force the Union Government to withdraw its decision to decrease the interest rate of Employees Provident Fund, protest Centre's "anti-labour" policies and for workers' rights in the information technology sector.

CITU General Secretary W.R. Varadarajan alleged on Monday that the UPA Government at the Centre is not adhering to its commitment to implement the Common Minimum Programme with regard to labourers. Despite giving a commitment to consult trade unions before taking any decision on issues concerning the labour community, the Prime Minister had not convened any meeting of trade unions on reducing EPF interest rate .

About the rape and murder of call centre employee Partibha in the city while proceeding to work, Mr. Varadarajan urged the Centre to constitute a tri-partite committee for information technology and information technology enabled services companies.

In a separate press release, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said the struggle for achieving 9.5 per cent interest on Provident Fund will continue from Tuesday.