Latest news with #N.KanakaRao
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Call for law to ensure rights of domestic workers
Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India (CFTUI) national president N. Kanaka Rao on Monday (June 16) demanded that the Centre enact a comprehensive law to ensure the rights of domestic workers such as minimum wages, social security and legal protection as per International Labour Organisation Convention no. 189. The CFTUI organised a meeting with domestic workers on the occasion of the 15th International Domestic Workers' Day here. Addressing the participants, Mr. Kanaka Rao said 43 countries have ratified this landmark agreement and expanded the rights of domestic workers, while 56 countries have implemented labour reforms to protect the rights of domestic workers owing to the tireless efforts of many trade unions and social organisations around the world. He explained that CFTUI represents the largest number of domestic workers among all trade unions in India. But, despite the adoption of the agreement, in the past 14 years, despite several struggles led by domestic workers' associations and social organisations, the Indian government has not framed any special law for domestic workers. Expressing concern at the plight of domestic workers in the informal sector of work in India, the CFTUI president said they were largely excluded from the ambit of labour laws. He said a division bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan had issued an order on the lack of legal protection for domestic workers in India. The court had said it was the Constitutional responsibility of the government to protect the oppressed classes. The bench had directed the Centre to constitute an expert committee comprising the departments of Labour and Employment, Social Justice and Empowerment, Women and Child Development and Law to examine the condition of domestic workers and recommend appropriate legislative measures. He said that the committee was supposed to submit its report within six months, but no action has been taken even after five months of the Supreme Court's order. On the occasion of International Domestic Workers' Day, he demanded that the Centre immediately frame a comprehensive national law for domestic workers.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Workers and farmers are facing a dire crisis, says ITUC national president
The main objective of the proposed All India general strike on May 20 is to protect the livelihood of the people and to resist the growing corporatisation, which is a threat to their existence, according to N. Kanaka Rao, national president and chief activist of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), an affiliate of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India (CFTUI). In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a copy to the Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh L. Mandaviya, the ITUC national president noted that workers and farmers are facing a dire crisis, with rising prices of essential commodities, lack of job opportunities, and pro-corporate government policies on people's livelihoods that have pushed millions into poverty. Due to lack of affordable price for crops and lack of proper guarantee, farmers are burdened with debt. He explained that this protest is an attempt to unite workers and farmers in the struggle for their rights, dignity and survival to solve the problems of workers experiencing job insecurity, lack of minimum wage, deterioration of their social security, and non-implementation of labour laws. The strike, in solidarity with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, called for a respect for international labour standards, adherence to ILO conventions, recommendations, protocols, declarations and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030). The conclusion of the CAS Committee at the 2019 International Labour Conference also included allowing an ILO direct contact mission to India. He called for immediate action to stop the privatisation of essential public sectors including Coal Mines, Banks, Insurance, Vizag Steel Plant (VSP), Port and Docks, and other profitable public sector enterprises, and to stop attacks on workers' rights, farmers' rights and human rights in India. The National Minimum Wage for all workers including unorganised sector workers, contract workers and scheme workers is ₹26,000 and demanded immediate implementation of equal pay for equal work to contract workers. Social security for all categories of workers including unorganized workers and agricultural workers. Domestic workers, hawkers, rag-pickers, domestic workers, construction workers, migrant workers, scheme workers, agricultural workers, workers in shops and establishments, loading and unloading workers, gig workers, saltpan workers, beedi workers, rickshaw pullers, auto/rickshaw/taxi drivers, ex-patriot workers, fishing community should be enrolled in comprehensive social security including pension.
