Joint GUF's Conduct A Stakeholders

 Consultation and Social Dialogue Meeting

    Under the banner of Joint GUFs Intervention on Social Dialogue and IFIs Engagements in South Asia, a Stakeholder Consultation and Social Dialogue Meeting took place at Bengaluru, Karnataka State in India on 10th April 2023. Affiliated unions from different Global Union Federations (GUFs) came forward together to discuss the situation of labour rights and violations across sectors at IFI-funded projects in India. The overall intervention is facilitated by the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) in partnership with the International Federation of Transport Workers (ITF), Public Services International (PSI), UNI Global Union and IndustriALL with cooperation from the Mondiaal FNV, Netherlands.

   Introduction started off briefly by young energetic Sister Shagufta Riyaz, Project Coordinator of Joint GUF's followed by an interesting explanation of the need of the meeting by Sister Prerna from Building Workers International (BWI).

    Welcome remarks were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Brother Vasantkumar N Hittenagi, Retired Labour Commissioner, Govt of Karnataka. The discussion was initiated with a couple of case studies and the follow up action taken in his capacity of Deputy Labour Commissioner.   

    The Global Union Federations (GUFs) have been engaging the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) at both project and policy levels. In the afternoon session, there were discussions on taking up and resolving workers' rights violations using International Financial Institutions (IFI) safeguards, accountability mechanisms and dialogue with stakeholders to represent workers' issues. The growing trend of privatization in various sectors including major public sectors like health and banking and also increasing contractualization of jobs and consequent discrimination in wages, benefits and service conditions has led to growing unrest. The meeting discussions focused on labour violations observed vis-a-vis social security, working hours, occupational health and safety (OHS), payment of wages, working and living conditions. Participating affiliates shared their ground level experiences and also came up with strategies to address labour violations and expand engagement with IFIs. It was also acknowledged that trade unions have significantly expanded their interventions at IFI-funded sites and engagement at the policy level. Ground level organizing efforts backed by appropriate training was highlighted as a continuing area of intervention.

    Selected employers from the Transport, Construction and IT sector also shared their perspective during the meeting, specifically on labour welfare facilities including overtime payments, safety training, inclusion in Provident Fund, paid leave and third-party safety auditing. The meeting concluded with identification of collective and GUF level strategies at the policy and also at the project/worksite level.