Imphal: Farmers and workers are the true creators of wealth, but sadly, 80% of that wealth is now concentrated in the hands of a few individuals and corporations, said A.R. Sindhu, Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). She urged companies to adhere to national laws and uphold workers’ fundamental rights.
Speaking exclusively to The North East Affairs, Sindhu highlighted the growing exploitation and discrimination of workers in India, based on factors such as gender, caste, ethnicity, region, or language. She criticized both foreign and domestic multinational companies for disregarding workers’ basic human rights and operating under their own set of rules.
“Blatant looting and exploitation is happening in the country. Public resources are being siphoned off to corporations under various guises, and the public sector is being handed over in the name of national monetization,” Sindhu remarked.
She emphasized that if the government and these companies wish to boost productivity and profits, they must heed workers’ demands. Sindhu vowed that the protests and struggles would continue until workers’ rights are respected.
Additionally, she pointed out that the share of wages for workers is decreasing, while profits are continuously rising. Sindhu also criticized the lack of implementation of the Dearness Allowance (DA), a government-mandated law. She noted that over 230 million Indians are living in absolute poverty, and the gap between the wealthy and the poor is widening. Basic trade union rights are being denied, and multinational companies are allowed to operate as they please, further violating democratic rights.
However, Sindhu reassured that CITU, unlike mainstream trade unions, will always stand by workers. She called on foreign companies, including Foxconn, Samsung, Maruti, and Volvo, to allow the formation of unions.
On a positive note, Sindhu mentioned that people are increasingly realizing the importance of unionized protests and collective support.
