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SESSION SIX: RESPONDING TO GLOBALISATION
The group met in Asha Kala Kendra, Mhow on 14th June 1999 at 4:00 PM to review the discussions held in past five sessions and draw up an Action Plan for future in light of Action Plan of ICFTU-APRO.
The group felt that discussions held in past sessions were very useful and thought provoking. The deliberations gave an insight to the participants. The group used views of their other counterparts in the Asian countries. Apart from reports of Australia, Korea, Pakistan and Philippines, material of Euro-ISC was also used. The views of moderator (for 3 sessions) were also very useful. Indian Trade Union Movement has been very strong but the growing population, lesser job opportunities, threats of globalization are alarming.
In India the response of Trade Union has been, at best, defensive to the New Economic Policy. Almost all the Trade Unions, irrespective of the party of their Political affiliation. The Process of Industrial restructuring has affected two major areas concerning workers i.e. employment and Union Power. Management strategies intended to reduce the permanent workforce and organize bulk of their production through ancillary units or by organizing casual, contract or other form of unprotected labor causing Job insecurity.
Indian Trade Union Movement is deeply fragmented along many lines i.e. divided along political line and number of factions within. Caught up in their petty rivalaries and have failed to fight for the common issues which affect the working class in General. The present trade union leadership is almost stagment.
The participants discussed the issues with above background the related issues :-
The TNCs have come with New Technology as a part of Globalization Process creating a bunch of new problems concerning employment particularly in a labor surplus country like India. Which makes a host of traditional skills redundant. Employers prefer to phase out workers with old skill and recruit new ones. The new jobs are likely to be managerial and supervisory positions. These can run an industry with a very few unskilled, casual or contract workers. New Technology enables the management to have major control over labor process. This erodes power of the Unions.
SUGGESTIONS
The participants also felt that TUs should not adopt narrow vision and should not restrict themselves to organized sector. They do not go beyond non-economic issues. Therefore, it is necessary to organize the workers of unorganized sector to work on casual/contact basis in TNCs and other places.
Trade Unions seed to broaden their vision and play an active role in the social process. They need to redefine their role so that society as a whole recognizes them as a positives and professional force.
The group discussed the social action plan for Asia prepared by ICFTU-APRO and expressed its solidarity with the statement area plan.
The group endorsed the priorities and expectations.
The Participants liked views of other participants, use of e-mail, curiosity of participating countries, reading material and case studies, information, and education material etc. which reached to them.
DISLIKED
However the participants were dissatisfied on non-receipt of the reports of the some other countries. They wanted some more educational material & there was insufficient time for translation of reports and comments thought it was done by the facilitator.
The participants learns more and more about the Globalization, New economic order, working of TNCs, forthcoming challenges and how their counterparts in other countries are combating the issues.
The ISC program stressed the need and participants realized the necessity of strongest and greater solidarity amongst the workers and their new role.
The participating countries should keep continuous activities and exchange information regularly.
Through our ISC we can continue our functions with Asia Pacific WEA as a nodal agency.
The workers and educationalists will take up these issues in their respective unions and central federations.
With above brief report we the participants of ISC-India, express our deep sense of gratitude to IFWEA, International coordinator Ms. Alana Dave, Asian coordinator Marlon, Moderator Jouko, Don of Australia Yoon of Korea, Musadiq of Pakistan, Tony of Philippines for their excellent cooperation & guidance. We are thankful to each participant of the participating countries for their views and interest shown by them. We are also grateful to all our friends in Philippines, Finland and UK who guided us and provided an excellent opportunity of interaction through E-Mail & Web Site.
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