Date : 10.04.2008

Dear President and Comrades,

We are happy to receive your invitation to attend the 19th Biennial National Delegate Conference of your Union.

At the outset I on behalf of our organization pay our respectful homage to all construction workers of Great Britain those who have passed away due to accident and illness in between the last 18th Biennial National Delegate Conference and this 19th Conference I convey our deep condolence to their berieved family members.

Comrades, in the era of imperialist globalisation, attack on the working class rights are increasing not only in our country but also in your country - too. Day by day in a systematic manner informalisation of industrial economy is taking place. Permanent workers numbers are being reduced and casual, contract, daily rated, piece rated workers numbers are increasing in lips and bounds.

These informal workers are being denied of the Government declared minimum wage and other social security benefits like medical, pension, gratuity (a lumpsum amount after retirement) in our country. We think the same
features you see in your country too.

In India about 36 crores (360 million) workers are in informal sector. Most of them are denied of Trade Union Rights and they remain out side the umbrella of social security benefits.

Our Federtion and our parent organisation Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and other Left trade Unions demanded for national legislation for giving legal protection and social security benefits to these 360 million informal sector workers before the Government of India. On these demands CITU & CWFI observed one day national level token strike on 8th August 2007. The strike was unprecedented success.

After this strike Govt of India has introduced a social security Bill for informal sector workers in the Parliament. This Bill is under discussion now.

Further we like to inform you that our federation has taken the problems of inter country migrant workers very seriously. We have published a document on this problem. One copy each will be handed over to your Union President and General Secretary for their valuable comments.

In this reference we like to request your union to think over to convene an international seminar on migrant labour problems and how to build up international solidarity to tackle the same.

Taking this opportunity further we like to convey our thanks to your Internatinal Body 'Building and wood workers Iternational' (BWI) for holding an 'International conference for child Right organisers and compaigners' on 20nd and 21st February 2008 at New Delhi, India. Our organisation attended this international conference at the invitation of 'MCI' and submitted a paper on 'child Labour in India special reference constructon Industry'

`BWI' invitation to all the central (trade unions of our country and inviting `UITBB' (TUI construction of WFTU) and some other organisations to participate in this conference indicate need of the hour is the unity of the working class of the world to fight any attack on the working class right and to find out alternative for sustainable development.

In fine, I like to inform you that currently a vast section of Indians are burning with high price of essential commodities. Due to pro-monopoly, Pro-landlord policies of the GO!, price hike touched intolerable level.

Due to un-remunerative prices of food grains and lack of capacity to pay back loan with interest to village money lenders thousands of poor farmers are committing suicide. Under the leadership of all Left Political Parties and mass organizations Indian toiling people are on the road of massive protest demonstration against this price hike and demanded 15 essential commodities to be distributed through fare price shops all over India.

I do not know whether you are also facing the same problems of price hike in your country. Comrades, we hope fraternal ties between your and our organisation will be strengthened more and more in coming days.
'Working class of the world unite'

With warm Fraternal Greeting.

Fraternally Yours

(Debanjan Chakrabarti)
General Secretary

Thursday, June 16, 2011

PRESS STATEMENT

100th
 Session of International Labour Conference

International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently conducted its 100th Session of International Labour Conference from 1st June 2011 to 17th June 2011 at Geneva, Switzarland.

This 100th Session have a slogan – “BUILDING A FUTURE WITH DECENT WORK”

This 100th Session have the following agenda :-

1. Decent work for domestic worker;
2. Labour administration and Labour Inspection;
3. A recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of Social protection (Social Security) under the follow up to the 2008 ILO declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation.

Before we go for the details of this 100th Session of ILC we just look back about the history  of ILO and Its objective –

The ILO was created in 1919, as part of the ‘Treaty of Versailles’ that ended world war-I, to reflect the belief that Universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on Social Justice. In 1944, during another period of international crisis, ILO, members adopted the ‘Declaration of Philadelphia’ which states that human and economic rights under the principle that “Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity to everywhere”

ILO is the United Nations Agency devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Its main aim to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related issues. ILO at present is responsible for implementation of international labour standards within its 181 member countries.

ILO has adopted the following fundamental conventions for implementation to safeguard workers interests –

1. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to organize convention 1948 [No.87] Right to organized and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 [ No.98]

2. Elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour.Forced Labour Convention, 1930 [No. 29]
   Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 [ No.105]

3. Effective abolition of Child Labour
   Minimum Age Convention, 1973 [ No. 138]
   Worst forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 [No. 182]

4. Elimination of Discrimination on Respect of Employment and Occupation Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 [ No.100]
   Discrimination (Employment & Occupation) Convention,1958 [ No.111]

5. ILO declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at work and its follow up-

Behind this background this 100th Session ILC to be viewed by us. All most all representatives from workers side from developed and developing and under developed countries expressed the same views in their speeches. In most of the countries the above mentioned fundamental convention and declaration are not being implemented with their true spirit.

Even some small countries employers representatives also spoke about the dictates of giant countries. The small countries employers demanded level playing field to have their internal business. Some country’s Government representative urged for necessary help from ILO and other International institute for skill development training of their work force.

Here I am mentioning some view of workers representative in this 100th session of ILC –

CHILIE    :  Workers have no trade union rights. 20% people of Chilie  have the control of 80% of national wealth. Government prefers flexible labour policy.

NORWAY : Right to work denied, it is to be implemented.

POLAND : Economic crisis is very serious. Government took anti-labour policies. Social Security decreased. Workers income is below biological survival, unemployment increased day by day. Economy is fragile.

JORDON : Job cut is on.

ANGOLA :  Fight against HIV/AIDS is a crucial task.

PALESTINE :  After 50 years Palestine declaration still under Israil  attack and economy shuttered down.

CAPE VERDE : Training needed for workers.

ROMANIA :  Economic crisis deepens due to IMF and World Bank dictated policy. This policy is not acceptable to the working class of Romania. There is no Labour Laws to protect the interest of the workers. Unprecedented pauperization of workers took place in Romania.

BURKINA FASO : There is no employment policy.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC : Workers lived under extreme poverty. 14.9% - unemployment and 49% economically depressed.

MAYANMOR : Employers delegate spoke against developed countries policies.

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN : Spoke against double standard global economy.

SPAIN :  Workers delegate spoke against IMF and World Bank dictated policy of Spain Government. They say no to LPG policy.

ITALY : told about migrant workers problems.

PHILIPPINES : Workers sidelined in social development process.

SUDAN : Workers delegate told that only 15% of young workers are in Union leadership.

KIRIBATI : People have no proper income.

With these above mentioned observation we can say that capitalist class disobeyed the principles of ILO and denied implementation of International Fundamental Convention and Declarations to protect the interest of the workers.

But one voice came up from every workers delegate – they are not accepting these policies, they are on the street to fight back.

In this 100th Session of ILC on behalf of Trade Unions International (UITBB) Construction, Wood & Building Materials Industries workers affiliated to WFTU, Comrade Debanjan Chakrabarti, General Secretary, spoke on 9th June 2011 at the Assembly Hall of United Nations Building.

Comrade Chakrabarti in his speech raised the following points –

1. The problems of self-employed / self engaged construction, wood, brick kiln, stone quarries workers (informal sector workers) for ensuring social security.
2. Denial of Trade Union rights for the construction workers in almost all countries of the world.
3. The Health and Safety issue of Construction Workers in the work site must be ensured which is neglected like anything.

Global ban on the production and the use of Asbestos – demanded.

4. Problems of migrant workers have to be taken up by ILO with its members countries.

In fine, Comrade Debanjan told that “We like to urge upon ILO to be more open”, democratic to give due importance to all World Trade unions tendencies. WFTU and its affiliated TUI’s must get due global importance like others on equal footings.

                                                                                         
                                                                                          (Debanjan Chakrabarti)
                                                                                              General Secretary
                                                                                                      UITBB