The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has approached the International Labour Organisation (ILO) against the Haryana and Delhi Governments for retrenching 975 and 991 anganwadi workers respectively for striking work demanding an increase in honorarium. CITU general secretary Tapan Sen said in his complaint to Director, Bureau for Workers Activities (ACTRAV) of the ILO Maria Helena Andre that the retrenchments have taken place “under knowledge and instigation” by the Centre.
Mr. Sen argued that the retrenchments were gross violation of several principals of fundamental rights of the workers as enshrined in ILO Conventions, ILO recommendations and declarations. He said the governments also ignored the observation of Committee on Freedom of Association that the final decision concerning illegality of strikes should not be made by the government, especially in those cases in which the government is a party to the dispute.
“They have denied discussion with the respective trade unions in violation of the principle of tripartite consultation. They have imposed Acts which are not relevant to this section of workers. They have terminated the workers without following principle of natural justice. They have pushed the workers to poverty and starvation by not paying wages for months together,” Mr. Sen said urging the ILO to contact the Government of India and insist them to withdraw all illegal actions and also direct their State governments to follow suit.
