The Hindu Business Line : Bengal CM `accepts' the right to form unions in IT sector

THE West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, has "accepted" the right to form trade unions (TUs) in the IT sector in the State, according to Mr Kali Ghosh, General Secretary (West Bengal) of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the trade union arm of the CPI(M) party.

Speaking to newspersons after a meeting Mr Bhattacharjee had with representatives of all major Central trade unions on industrial relations and related matters in the State, Mr Ghosh said the Chief Minister had accepted the trade unions' contention that the formation of trade unions was a constitutional right of workers in every sector of industry, including the IT sector.

Mr Ghosh said Mr Bhattacharjee averred that existing trade unions laws would be applicable to the IT sector in the State as well.

It may be recalled that, of late, there has been much public debate over whether it was desirable to have trade unions in the IT sector. While the central trade unions have felt that the formation of trade unions was a prerequisite to protect the rights of those working in the IT sector, senior managements of large IT firms have gone on record saying that no third party intervention is required for resolving disputes, if any, between managements and workforce in the IT sector.

Mr Bhattacharjee, who declined to speak to newspersons after the meeting, apparently said while the big IT companies were adhering to laws such as the Shops and Establishments Act, some smaller companies, especially those operating call centres, were violating rules, especially those pertaining to working conditions and duration of working hours.

According to Mr P. Sen, General Secretary of the West Bengal unit of Indian National Trade Union Congress, the Chief Minister denied that he had ever said at any forum that strikes will not be allowed to take place in West Bengal, He, however, urged trade unions to be more "responsible" keeping in view the changed global economic scenario.

Among the central trade unions present at the meeting were CITU, the Indian National Trade Union Congress, Bharat Mazdoor Sangh, All India Trade Union Congress and United Trade Union Congress, among others. The trade unions urged the State administration to ensure that industry in the State, especially in sectors such as jute and engineering, strictly adhere labour laws and laws pertaining to provident fund, employees State insurance, gratuity, etc.

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