Indian labor unions threaten strike

Indian labor unions threaten strike

NEW DELHI (AFP): Leading Indian trade unions on Sunday threatened to launch a nationwide strike to protest against Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee government's policy of privatization and relaxing rigid labour laws.

In a joint statement, national labour unions criticized Vajpayee for his recent statement that liberalization of the economy was aimed at raising employment and reducing poverty.

The leaders of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and others met Sunday to determine a course of action.

Vajpayee recently rebutted criticism from the unions about sensitive labor law reforms and privatization.

"To term these reforms as anti-labor, as some people are doing, is misleading," he said.

The Indian premier conceded "during the period of transition, there can be some teething trouble," but pointed out that no worker had been retrenched in the country's decade-long economic reforms.

The unions said in a statement they would agitate against the "thoughtless privatization of profit-making and potentially viable public sector undertakings including defense sector industries."

The labor leaders also vowed to oppose tooth and nail changes in labor laws that would strengthen the hand of employers at the cost of workers, which they said would increase unemployment.