The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has submitted a protest memorandum to the Ministry of Commerce and Labour to oppose the creation of National Manufacturing and Investment Zones. The NMIZ is an initiative by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to push the share of the manufacturing sector in the GDP.
Miffed members of the organisation, which fights for the rights of workers, say that the NMIZ policy takes away their Constitutional right to form trade unions. The BMS members are also opposing the hire-and-fire policy and the non-applicability of Contract Labour Abolition Act in these special zones.
"Such policies of hire and fire cannot be accepted. We want to remove poverty and unemployment through developmental plans and programmes," said Baij Nath Rai, all India general secretary of the BMS.
However, ministry officials say that NMIZ is a positive step toward strengthening the economy.
"The proposed policy will help achieve higher GDP by exempting labour laws and prohibiting formation of trade unions in the zones," said an official from the ministry. Officials say that the idea behind the policy is to initiate flexible labour laws, while providing excellent infrastructure and easier environment norms to the manufacturing sector.
"This will help in increasing the share of the manufacturing sector in the GDP from the current level of 16-17% to 25% by 2022," the official added.
Published on 1 May 2011 — The Sunday Guardian.
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