19 December, 2013On 12 December, 200 000 workers rallied in Delhi, demanding, among other things, ratification of ILO Conventions 87 and 98.
The rally, which marched from Ramlila Maidan to Parliament, was organised by the eleven Central Trade Unions (CTU).
Demonstrators demanded a halt to the government’s neo-liberal agenda, which has resulted in a growing unemployment, sluggish agricultural production, wage cuts and loss in real earnings. They called upon workers to take on a crucial role in moving away from this turmoil by collective actions.
Sudhershan Rao Sarde, Regional Secretary, IndustriALL Global Union South Asia Regional Office, says on the rally:
Following this massive demonstration the government has called upon representatives of the national centres for a discussion. This impressive mobilization shows extraordinary and unprecedented unity in post-independent India. It clearly demonstrates the collective resolve of the national centres to continue the actions until the government resolves the issues.