Are We Just “Milking Animals” For Your Profit Ask C. Srikumar, Deputy General Secretary Of WFTU To L&T Chairman
The WFTU in all its meeting with ILO and other International Forums is insisting for reducing the working hours to 35 hours a week
L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan is already under fire for his 90-hour workweek. After nationwide criticism on the statement by netizens including Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, former badminton player Jwala Gutta and RPG Group chairperson Harsh Goenka, C. Srikumar, Deputy General Secretary Of WFTU has asked the conglomerate Chairman – Are We Just “Milking Animals” For Your Profit ?
Moreover – “How long can you stare on your wife” statement made by L&T Chairman, also triggered strong reaction from the workers organizations and they have reacted to it sharply. Protest statements had been issued by AITUC, CITU, All India Working Women’s Forum etc.
L& T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s statement comes after the call given by Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy to Indian Workers to work for 70 hours a week.
C. Srikumar, a Senior Trade Union Leader and the Deputy General Secretary of World Federation of Trade Unions, in a conversation with www.indianpsu.com said that all over the World the demand of the Trade Unions is that the weekly working hours should be 35 hours. The WFTU in all its meeting with ILO and other International Forums is insisting for reducing the working hours to 35 hours a week. The benefit and advantage of Technological development is not transferred to the workers, rather its fully taken over by the Capitalists and Corporates.
The Workers have achieved 8 hour Working after a prolonged struggle and sacrifice. Over a Century the Science and Technology has developed so much and today ever one speaks about artificial intelligence. But whether the workforce is benefitted out of this? No is the Answer.
Even in Government and Public Sector whether it is Railways or Ordnance Factories the Authorities sitting in Corporate Board Rooms with all comforts decides Workers should give more production and work long hours with out any additional compensation. Since the workers in these Sectors are organised they resist and raise their Voice. Therefore the Government has cunningly decided to stop permanent employment and go for Contractual and jig employment so that those workers can be fully exploited. If they resist they will be thrown out of job – Hire and Fire is the Corporate Policy.
Studies have proved more working hours and poor working conditions develops poor health conditions amongst the workers and resulting in stress, depression, suicides and heart attacks at an younger age.
It’s unbecoming of a person holding a responsible position to insult women as they play a vital role in the economic growth and GDP of our Country. No civilized society can accept such type of statements. We in WFTU has taken a very serious note of this and we will condemn such type of irresponsible statements in all international forums and we will continue our struggle for 35 hours working hours in a week, concluded Srikumar.
