NEW DELHI (ACTRAV INFO) -- Trade Unions in India have taken a stand against any labour flexibility that would weaken union organising and reduce the role of collective bargaining, during the one day national consultative conference with trade unions organized by the ILO Bureau for Workers‘ Activities (ACTRAV).

The opposition to the revision of the labour laws became one of the common agenda items of the activities established by 11 national trade union confederations in India. This came as a response to the new government’s talked-about changes to labour laws, which it said would encourage greater investment in India.

In her opening address, Maria Helena Andre, Director of ACTRAV, stressed challenges for unions in India regarding inequality, labour law reforms, export processing zones (EPZs), fiscal policies, skills and education, trade agreements, collective bargaining, and continuance of the campaign on the promotion of ratification of core labour standards.

Participants agreed to work together,particularly concerning the campaign for the ratification and implementation of ILO’s Conventions, a research and communication agenda and the inclusion of women in shaping the labour market policies.

One of the main objectives of the conference, which took place on 10 July in New Delhi, was to reinforce the ILO’s cooperation with the trade union movement and strengthen trade unions with regard to the labour law reforms launched by the new government in India.

For more information, please contact:

Ariel Castro
Senior specialist on workers’ activities,
International Labour Office, Decent Work Team for South Asia
Email
Tel: +91 11 24602102