People's Democracy

HELD successfully at Cox Bazar (Bangladesh) on July 5 and 6, the South Asian seminar on Neo-Liberal Globalisation and Its Impact on Trade Unions Rights was organised by the Trade Unions International of Public & Allied Employees and locally hosted by Bangladesh Sarkari Karmachari Samonnoy Parishad.

A total of 93 delegates, including 15 women, participated. Of them, 2 were from Sri Lanka and Nepal each, 28 from various TUI affiliates in India and the rest from Bangladesh. The Indians belonged to the All India State Government Employees Federation, Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, All India Bank Employees Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, All India Insurance Employees Association, All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association and All India Peerless Employees Union. The Sri Lankans were one each from the Public Service Trade Unions Federation and All Ceylon Government Clerical Union while the Nepalese were from the government employees’ organisation. Those from the host country hailed from the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, Jatio Sramik Jote, Jatio Sramik Federation, Samajtantrik Sramik Jote and Bangladesh Sarkari Karmachari Samonnoy Parishad.

Out of women delegates, 4 were from India and the rest belonged to the Bangladesh Karmachari Samonnoy Parishad.

Gopal Bhattacharya, ILO director in Bangladesh, addressed the inaugural ceremony on July 5. The seminar had a five-member presidium comprising Tarakeswar Chakravarty (India), W H Piyadasa (Sri Lanka), Biswanath Paikural (Nepal), Mohd Abdul Mannan and Nurul Islam (Bangladesh).

At the business session, after the welcome speech, Sukomal Sen, general secretary of the TUI of Public & Allied Employees, introduced the discussion paper that was distributed to the delegates beforehand.

As many as 40 delegates from different organisations took part in the discussion, narrating their experiences about the offensive of neo-liberal globalisation and the attacks on trade union rights. All of them narrated different incidents of cruel economic offensive on the workers in their respective industries and countries by way of retrenchment, downsizing, closure, stoppage of economic benefits and attacks on existing trade union rights. One woman delegate from Bangladesh explained in simple words how women workers were falling victim to neo-liberal globalisation and how medical services to the people were being greatly curtailed.

Mohd Abdul Al Momin, minister for food in Bangladesh government, also addressed the seminar, supporting the workers’ cause.

While the seminar was in progress, Adamji Jute Mills of Bangladesh --- that is the biggest jute mill of the world and employs 25,000 workers --- was closed down. All the speakers condemned this closure.

Sukomal Sen summed up the discussion and placed the draft of the Cox Bazar Declaration, highlighting the main points of the discussion and the tasks ahead. The declaration was unanimously adopted. The seminar also adopted a resolution demanding reopening of the Adamji Jute Mill.

On July 6 evening, a gathering of about 500 employees including many women, gave a public reception to the delegates in Town Hall. Mohd Abdul Mannan (president, Bangladesh Sarkari Karmachari Samonnoy Parishad) presided while Ayub Bangali (president of its Cox Bazar unit) welcomed the delegates. Salehuddia Salim (general secretary of the Parishad), Sukomal Sen, Abdul Ali Momin (minister) and other members of parliament addressed the function.

The Cox Bazar unit of the Parishad organised cultural functions in the evenings, when local talents entertained the delegates.