People's Democracy

AN ALL India convention of EPZ/ SEZ workers was organised by CITU on June 30 at Visakhapatnam. This was the first ever effort by a trade union to develop a nationwide coordinated movement of the workers in the Export Processing Zones and Special Economic Zones in the country. Around 100 workers employed in the Cochin SEZ, Madras EPZ and Visakhapatnam EPZ participated in the convention. Representatives from Santa Cruz SEZ and Noida EPZ, where CITU has affiliated unions, could not attend the convention due to some problems. M K Pandhe, general secretary, CITU, inaugurated the convention while Ch. Narasinga Rao, secretary, Andhra Pradesh state committee of CITU presided. Representatives from HMS and BMS greeted the convention.

Export Processing Zones/ Special Economic Zones are industrial zones established with the objective of attracting investment to the country, particularly foreign investment. This is supposed to create jobs, raise the living standards of the people, transfer improved technology to the country and help in economic development. To attract investment, the central government has given several incentives to the investors, like tax holidays for up to 10 years, duty free imports and exports, infrastructure, strategic locations, and market access.

At present, there are four Export Processing Zones in the country – Madras EPZ, Noida EPZ, Falta EPZ and Visakhapatnam EPZ. In 2000, the government has announced setting up of Special Economic Zones. The EPZs in Kandla and Surat in Gujarat, Santa Cruz in Maharashtra and Cochin in Kerala have been converted into Special Economic Zones. The government has sanctioned 13 more SEZs in the country in the state and joint sectors. It has also decided to establish Agricultural Economic Zones.

Around 1 lakh workers, most of whom are women in the age group of 18-25 years are employed in the EPZs/ SEZs in our country. They are subjected to severe exploitation as the employers flout all labour laws with impunity, with the tacit support of the Zone administration and the government. In fact, in addition to the financial concessions, the government itself invites/ encourages the investors to exploit the workers by advertising about the availability of ‘abundant cheap labour’. Though all labour laws are applicable to the units inside the zones, the zones are declared as ‘public utility services’, which in effect bans union activities and application of the labour laws. Workers who are perceived to be involved in forming unions are immediately dismissed from service. The workers are not allowed to interact with outsiders or even with the workers in the other units. Employers refuse to talk to the unions, even with those having majority of workers as their members.

It is common for the employers to utilise all the benefits for 5 years, then close shop, and start the unit in some other zone or even within the zone with a new name. Appointment letters, pay slips, are not given. Minimum wages are not implemented. Workers are employed on contract basis. Overtime is compulsory but overtime wages are not paid. On the other hand, wages are deducted if the workers fail to meet the high production targets fixed unilaterally by the employers. Safety equipment/ apparels are not provided, as that would increase production costs and reduce the speed and output.

Women are made to work in night shifts without providing proper conveyance to their residences. They are not given maternity leave. On the other hand, women found to be pregnant are removed from service. Crèches are not provided. Young and unmarried women are only preferred. The use of toilets is controlled by issuing tokens. Sexual harassment is very common.

Inaugurating the convention, Pandhe said that the conditions of the workers in the EPZs have become worse after the BJP-led NDA Government came to power. The union commerce minister himself announced that labour laws would not be implemented in the EPZs and SEZs and that women must work in the night shifts. The 35th Indian Labour Conference unanimously recommended that workers’ representatives should accompany the labour inspectors when he visits the units in the zones. But instead of implementing this, the commerce ministry, which administers the zones, has directed that labour inspectors cannot inspect the units in the zones, without prior permission of the ministry.

K Hemalata, secretary, CITU presented the ‘Declaration’, with the charter of demands and future action. The Declaration was unanimously adopted after several representatives from all the Zones spoke on it.

The Declaration pointed out that even after utilising all the concessions from the Government, the EPZs could not achieve the export targets. Their share in exports was only around 4 per cent. It noted that ‘giving concessions to the foreign and national employers at the cost of the interests of the workers cannot develop the economy of the country or improve the performance of the EPZs. Smooth industrial relations, recognising the right to association of the workers, and implementation of labour laws will only help in increasing the efficiency of the zones.’ It called upon the Development Commissioners to ensure that all the labour laws are properly implemented, instead of mortgaging the rights of the workers in the name of attracting investment.

The convention decided to conduct a campaign on the conditions of the workers in the EPZs and SEZs in the country through leaflets, posters, meetings, house to house campaign etc and to conduct local level conventions with all trade unions. A delegation will meet the labour and commerce ministers of government of India and submit a memorandum along with the charter of demands adopted at the convention, during the monsoon session of parliament. The convention appealed to all the trade unions and democratic people in the country to extend support and solidarity to the just demands of the workers in the EPZs and SEZs.

The convention decided to form a Coordination Committee of 13 members, with two representatives from each zone and a Convenor from the centre, to coordinate the movement of the EPZ and SEZ workers in the country.