Labour organisations weakening with time
About 20 crore labourers across the country from various outfits have called for two day national bandh to protest against the anti-labour policies and unilateral decisions regarding labour welfare programmes announced by the central government.
This bandh has been supported by 10 labour organisations. Two day bandh is really a big blow to the country’s exchequer. But then the central government has been implementing policies for labourers without consulting them about their opinion about proposed changes.
The government isn’t responding to the pleas submitted by labourers or even by two major rallies taken out by the farmers. Hence, to make the government listen to the labourers and others, such hard protest is much necessary. Except for Bharatiya Mazdoor Sanghatana which is the subsidiary of Sangh Parivar, all other labour organisations have supported this bandh.
There are two reasons why the anti-labour movements are getting implemented in the country. One is that the labour organisations have lost steam and weakened with time. Second one is that the labour organisations have been deeply politicized.
Hence the labour federations and organisations have to attend to the issues challenging the solidarity of labour collectives instead of getting down to solving their problems. Political parties have clearly mislead the labourers who came to show solidarity with them. The same labourers are now taking to streets in the name of religion and caste. They are identifying with the political parties that are implementing policies that are against their very welfare.
Only 8% of the total workers are in organized sector and the rest of 92% are in unorganized sector working under dire conditions and life challenges. The labour organisations and governments have to train their focus on them and find solutions to their problems. But then there are many challenges before the goal is accomplished. Women are in huge numbers in unorganized sector which is ever expanding. Information technology sector has posed a challenge to particular work atmosphere.
Now with modes of transportation having seen revolutionary changes overnight, private taxis like Ola and Uber have been witnessing complex issues that the country never witnessed before. Most of the public sector companies are worn out owing to the interference of the governments of their time.
But the government neither has plans nor is holding discussions with the labourers on schemes or packages for the rehabilitation of labourers or the organisations. The fixed hour work contract that was implemented in garment industry in 2016 is pro-industry and aids the employers to make terms according to their convenience instead of labour welfare. Now that policy has been implemented in all sectors.
As per that policy, the labourer can be removed from the job at any given time without prior notice, by the employer. Almost all the multinational companies are implementing the labour contract system has turned into a massive challenge since 1970 onwards.
With the labour federations and organisations facing the biggest challenge threatening their existence with pressure being mounted from every corner to eliminate them, how can they find solutions outside the political equations and situations? In fact even BMS with its RSS background has also objected to including MNCs and policies pertaining to labour into time bound contract and labour code bill of 2017.
The organization has sought to the government to present a whitepaper on the dependency of the government on MNCs and how many jobs have MNCs generated in the recent times. BMS had openly criticized the anti-labour approach of Modi government. But BMS stopped participating in nationwide bandhs since 2015 September even when the issues were about the safety and future of labourers.
The organization said they are more concerned about labour welfare than staging dharna or bandh or even indulging in politics. One of the core duties of organized labour sector is to facilitie tripartite discussions between joint labour federations, the government and employers to conduct meaningful discussions and find solutions for problems plaguing the sector.
Most labour organisations feel NDA government rejects any chance to hold discussions with the labour movements, feel the leaders of labour collectives. Labour welfare and shutting down of manufacturing units is not just owing to indiscriminate removing of people from jobs, but is also against the spirit of democracy.
Labour organisations owe it to people to take the real picture to them and make the labour welfare as people’s welfare. This has to be inclusive of labour welfare and public welfare too. Unless the labour sector becomes a political force to reckon with again, it cannot even dream of wielding political power. bandh will merely be something that people will never understand and complain against.
The question may arise about the government’s stance to this whole issue that having known govt’s unresponsiveness to this, why would the organisations still call a bandh? Labour organisations have to inform people that the core issue that is affecting manufacturing sector would have a bearing on everyone.
Labour movement has to become a common cause which would then ensure it would turn into a political power. Once when the parties know people and labourers are together, they will come down on their knees to fulfil the demands.
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CM Siddaramaiah ready to "sacrifice power" or continue, as per Rahul's directions: Rajanna
Bengaluru (PTI): As the speculation about leadership change in Karnataka rages yet again, a senior party leader and close aide of Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the Chief Minister was ready to "sacrifice power" or continue in the top post, based on the directions of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
KN Rajanna also seemed to support the idea of a change in the party leadership as well, an apparent reference to deputy CM and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar, whose supporters want him to be made CM.
Urging the Congress high command to clear the confusion on the leadership issue, Rajanna, a former minister who is considered close to Siddaramaiah, warned that continued uncertainty would be detrimental for the party and governance.
He also insisted that if the chief minister is changed, there should be a "Dalit CM" in Karnataka.
The development comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
"The Chief Minister has an open mind and has said he will abide by the directions of the high command and Rahul Gandhi, and that everyone should cooperate. The CM has repeatedly reiterated that he will abide by Rahul Gandhi's directives and suggested that everyone follow the decision. All ministers have agreed to it," Rajanna said in response to a question about the CM's recent discussion with his close cabinet colleagues and MLAs.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "power is not permanent for any politician, those who lose it will try to gain it and those who have gained it will try to maintain it. The CM's mindset is that he is ready to sacrifice power or continue in power as per Rahul Gandhi's directions. He will abide by Rahul Gandhi's decision."
When asked whether supporters of Siddaramaiah demanded that he continue as CM, and if he steps down, that an AHINDA leader should take over, the MLA said the matter is for the high command to decide.
"We have told the high command what we had to. Ultimately it is left to high command and Rahul Gandhi," he said.
AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) is considered as the strong support base of Siddaramaiah and also the Congress party.
When asked about his past statement that there should be a Dalit CM after Siddaramaiah, Rajanna said, "What's wrong with it. I am committed to the statement that there should be a Dalit CM."
MLAs and leaders who want Shivakumar to be elevated have recently claimed they expect some "sweet news" by May 15, which is their leader's birthday.
When asked whether the party president should also be changed, the former minister said that everything has to change.
"If the ministers have to change, why shouldn't the party president. Everything will be decided by high command," he said.
Shivakumar is the state Congress President and has completed six years in the post.
For the government to function more actively towards the welfare of the people it is important that the high command clears the existing confusion in the Congress party at the earliest, Rajanna said, adding, the ministers have gone to discuss the same with the leadership.
"I too urge that the high command should not allow the confusion to continue; as long as the confusion continues, it is detrimental for the party and governance. I will also go to Delhi after May 4," he said.
"The high command is at it (resolving the confusion), but because of elections, the leaders are busy. The matter cannot be decided hastily, it must be decided with a clear state of mind, as it involves the future of the people of Karnataka and the party," he said, expressing confidence that the party will take appropriate decisions after examining all aspects.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary (in charge of Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala in New Delhi and requested them to address the speculation regarding the change of leadership in the state.
Subsequently Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa too met the party leadership in Delhi.
Both Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa are considered close to Siddaramaiah.
Regarding the demand for cabinet reshuffle, Rajanna said there is an expectation within both the party and the public that the administration should be sensitised more, and there is nothing wrong in new people getting opportunities.
Responding to a question, Rajanna said, there is a feeling among AHINDA communities that their expectations from the current government have not been fulfilled. "I too agree with it," he said.
Rajanna, who recently alleged that the Chief Minister is "helpless" and under some "compulsion," reiterated his statement by saying, "compare Siddaramaiah as CM during 2013-18 and 2023 to now, there is a huge difference, people are saying it."
The leadership issue is being hotly debated as Shivakumar's supporters have been demanding his elevation since late 2025, in lines with a rumoured power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections.
