Participation of Trade Unions in L20 Meeting एल 20 बैठक में श्रमिक संघों की भागीदारी
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 103
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2023
PARTICIPATION OF TRADE UNIONS IN L20 MEETING
103. DR. ASHOK KUMAR MITTAL:
Will the Minister of Labour and Employment be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has details on concerns raised by the central trade unions that boycotted L20 meeting and if so, detail thereof;
(b) whether Government has undertaken steps to address the issue and ensure the inclusion and representation of all trade unions in the decision-making process and if so, detail thereof;
(c) whether Government has plan to take to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for trade unions to participate in meetings like L20 meeting and detail thereof; and
(d) whether Government has plan to maintain the credibility and effectiveness of the L20 platform amidst the boycott by the central trade unions and if so, detail thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)
(a) to (d): As per available information, L-20 meetings under Indian G20 Presidency were organized in Amritsar on 19-20 March 2023 and L20 Summit in Patna on 22-23 June 2023 wherein a large number of delegates from all over the world and Indian Trade Unions participated.
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is the Chair for the L20 engagement group meetings under Indian G20 Presidency for which some Central Trade Unions have expressed their concern. Representation of Central Trade Unions is always ensured through Tripartite Consultations.
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भारत सरकार
श्रम और रोजगार मंत्रालय
राज्य सभा
अतारांकित प्रश्न संख्या 103
गुरूवार, 20 जुलाई, 2023/29 आषाढ़, 1945 (शक)
एल 20 बैठक में श्रमिक संघों की भागीदारी
103. डा. अशोक कुमार मित्तल:
क्या श्रम और रोजगार मंत्री यह बताने की कृपा करेंगे कि:
(क) क्या सरकार के पास एल 20 बैठक का बहिष्कार करने वाले केंद्रीय श्रमिक संघों द्वारा उठाए गए मुद्दों का ब्यौरा है ओर यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है;
(ख) क्या सरकार ने इस मुद्दे का समाधान करने और निर्णय लेने की प्रक्रिया में सभी श्रमिक संघों के समावेश और प्रतिनिधित्व को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए कदम उठाए हैं और यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है;
(ग) क्या सरकार की श्रमिक संघों के लिए एल 20 जेसी बैठकों में भाग लेने के लिए अधिक समावेशी और न्यायसंगत वातावरण को बढ़ावा देने की योजना है और तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है; और
(घ) क्या सरकार की केंद्रीय श्रमिक संघों के बहिष्कार के चलते एल 20 प्लेटफॉर्म की विश्वसनीयता और प्रभावशीलता बनाए रखने की योजना है और यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी
ब्यौरा क्या है?
उत्तर
श्रम और रोजगार राज्य मंत्री (श्री रामेश्वर तेली)
(क) से (घ): उपलब्ध जानकारी के अनुसार, भारतीय जी20 अध्यक्षता में एल-20 बैठ के दिनांक 19-20 मार्च, 2023 को अमृतसर में आयोजित की गई थीं और एल-20 शिखर
सम्मेलन 22-23 जून, 2023 को पटना में आयोजित किया गया था जिसमें संपूर्ण विश्व से बड़ी संख्या में प्रतिनिधियों और भारतीय मजदूर संघों ने भागीदारी की थी।
भारतीय मजदूर संघ (बीएमएस) भारतीय जी20 प्रेसीडेंसी के तहत एल20 सहभागिता समूह की बैठकों का अध्यक्ष है, जिसके लिए कुछ केंद्रीय मजदूर संघों ने अपनी चिंता व्यक्त की है।
केन्द्रीय मजदूर संघों का प्रतिनिधित्व हमेशा त्रिपक्षीय परामर्शों के माध्यम से सुनिश्चित किया जाता है।
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COMMENTS
(a) whether Government has details on concerns raised by the central trade unions that boycotted L20 meeting and if so, detail thereof;
Our concern was that a government unilaterally announced the L20 Host union, which is an interference in union affairs and a breach to the right of freedom of association. The ILO has called the Indian government many times to abstain from such interferences, albeit not in the G20 context but in many tripartite contexts, including the International Labour Conference. The government’s action on the L20 has been criticised by many democracies around the world, which is recognised with diplomatic language in the recent G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting Chair’s Summary (paragraph 26: “We note the important contribution of social partners and other engagement groups including those recognised internationally, to our work.”)
(b) whether Government has undertaken steps to address the issue and ensure the inclusion and representation of all trade unions in the decision-making process and if so, detail thereof;
The government has not undertaken such steps. After genuine negotiations, the ITUC and TUAC proposed a compromise that the BMS (as nominated by the government) and the INTUC (as nominated by the Platform of ten Central Trade Unions) co-host the meetings. The government did not agree to this mid-way solution. The ITUC/TUAC announced that they would not participate in events organised by others in their name.
(d) whether Government has plan to maintain the credibility and effectiveness of the L20 platform amidst the boycott by the central trade unions and if so, detail thereof?
Just to note on this point that the credibility and effectiveness of the L20 does not depend on the Indian government but on the ITUC/TUAC and an extended L20 network comprising unions from all G20 countries as well as Global Union Federations. Even in this year of disruption, the said organisations continued their policy advocacy as usual through L20 union and their contacts in G20 capitals.