K.S. Malik
Education Officer-Workers’ Education and Student leader Rajesh joined the Study
circle proceedings.
After brief introductory remarks and Welcome by the Facilitator the Reports from
Australia, Korea and Phillippines were discussed alongwith the Moderator’s comments.
1. REPLIES
The Group replied various querries as below :
AUSTRALIA :
- Proportion is 1: 3
- Privatisation is occurring in the Electricity generation, Communication, Transport ,
Domestic aviation, variou s sectors of Indian Railways particularly Services like catering
maintenance etc.
- Unions are present in almost every sector which is organised but in unoranised and
Agricultural sectors Unions are almost absent.
- yes, larger companies treat their workers better than smaller ones.
- Yes the Labour laws provide desired environment.
- Growing Unemployment and Under under employment ,Population of the country, loss of
jobs, lesser opportunities etc.
- No.
KOREA:
- Union Movement has no powerful Political or social influence.
- Very high unemployment rate. No protection for unemployed.
- Unions have their own offices and their officials think over the problems on General and
complaints of the employees and take suitable steps.
- Unions are at both levels .
- yes, Provision of lay-off is there even before Independence in 1949.
- Dawwoo has recently arrived in the country.
PHILIPPINES
- Business sector adopt tactis to weaken the Trade Union activiities by creating other
favourite TU or strengthening rival Unions.
- Basic Strategies are Memorandum of Demand, Token Strikes, Pen/tools down, symbolic
agitation, work to rule, slow work, Strike, Hunger strike, Fast unto death etc. etc.
- Depends on the strength of the Union.
- See the following discussions.
- see the following discussions.
- Our answer is affirmative
The Group felt that the problems and situations are almost same in India and these
countries of ISC .After considering the questions raised by friends of the other
countries, the Group started discussion on the theme of today:
2. WHAT IS GLOBALISATION
The Group read the Paper collectively and felt that :
- The Government of India and Various State Governments are facing severe economic and
financial crisises and issued White Papers. The crisis is so acute that there are drastic
cuts in Government and Public expenditures. The recommendations of the Vth Pay Commission
appointed by the Govt. of India have been accepted and have resulted in very high pay
scales for the employees of the Union and State Government Employees. The Governments are
unable to bear the burden and have started cuts in welfare and developmental programmes.
- The State and Union Governments are trying to sell out/close or privatise many of the
State owned corporations/companies. In this race not only the non-profit making
enterprises are suffering but the enterprises earning profits are facing threats of
selling their holdings in open market.
