People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vol. XXVI

No. 27

July 14,2002

Charter Of Demands

The all India convention adopted the following charter of demands:

All labour laws and social welfare benefits should be strictly enforced in all the EPZs and SEZs. Maternity leave and Crèche facilities should be provided.

Development Commissioners should not be given the powers of Labour Commissioners.

The rights of the workers to form unions of their choice should be recognised and employers should negotiate with the democratically elected unions.

Employment on contract basis in jobs of permanent and perennial nature should be banned.

Payment of wages and period of employment should be delinked from global export trends.

Piece rated wages should be converted to time rated wages.

Safety standards should be strictly implemented.

OHS centres and ESI clinics should be established within the zone area in all the zones.

Complaints Committees against sexual harassment should be set up in all the zones as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

The labour inspectors should regularly inspect units in the zones and the workers’ representatives should be allowed to accompany the labour inspectors in their visits.

Government of India should form Industrial Committee at the national level on EPZs and SEZs, involving unions representing the EPZ and SEZ workers.

For payment of gratuity, the condition of 5 years minimum period of service should not be applied to the EPZ and SEZ workers. All the workers should be paid gratuity proportionate to their service.