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13 November, 2009
“The stronger the union, the safer the mine!”
We, representing miners’ trade unions from different federations and traditions, meeting in New Delhi from 28-30th October 2009, have examined the status of occupational safety and health in mines in India. We benefited from the presence of the representatives of ICEM, ILO, CIL, DGMS and CII.
We declare that safety and health of miners is not an issue that divides us. We say: “the stronger the union, the safer the mine!”
We are firmly of the view that ratification of ILO Convention 176 on safety and health in mines would provide real benefits for miners’ safety and health. The convention is a distillation of global good practice. It is a modern, relevant and achievable standard.
India has been a member of the ILO since 1919, and is a leading member now. As the second most important mining country in the world, India should set an example by ratifying the convention 176. India was present at the debates in Geneva when the convention was drawn up, and participated in its development and the Indian delegation voted in favour of its adoption.
The convention has been ratified by 23 countries, which represents more than 10% of the ILO’s membership.
Since 1995, when the convention was adopted at the International Labour Conference, the Government of India has repeated on several occasions that it is “considering” the convention. We believe that now is the time for action. Fourteen years is long enough.
We repeat our request to the government of India to ratify the convention forthwith, or engage in a genuine and meaningful tripartite dialogue to identify those articles in the convention that appear to stand in the way of ratifying the convention and seek the advice of the ILO in overcoming them.
In the absence of any meaningful dialogue, miners’ trade unions will launch a campaign in favour of ratification, and we will seek to negotiate the realization of the standards contained in the convention through collective bargaining with individual mining companies.
“The stronger the union, the safer the mine!”