Why is it in the news?
- Central Trade Unions (CTUs) in India have urged the government to ratify International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions related to workers’ health and safety.
- Their concerns were prompted by the recent Silkyara Tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand, highlighting the importance of workplace safety for workers.
More about the news
- CTUs are organizations that protect and promote the interests of their members, which can be workers or employers. Examples include the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
- India has the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code (OSHWCC) 2020 in place to address workers’ safety concerns.
- Some concerns with OSHWCC include size-based thresholds, covering establishments with at least 10 or more workers, and barring civil courts from hearing matters related to the code. It also does not cover all branches of economic activity.
- India has ratified several ILO conventions, including those related to forced labour, equal remuneration, and child labour (among others).
- However, India has not ratified conventions related to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and specific occupational safety and health conventions.
| International Labour Organization (ILO)
· The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a tripartite U.N. agency established in 1919. · It brings together governments, employers, and workers to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. · India is a founding member of the ILO, which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. |
