Trivandrum: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has asked the Kerala Government to ensure a congenial atmosphere for entrepreneurs in the State by curbing aggressive trade unionism. In a statement issued today, the CII has called for a ban on all trade union activities that disrupt any business activity in Kerala. We should make Kerala Future Ready by taming the trade union activities.
Kerala, once infamous for strikes and violent hartals enforced by trade unions and political parties hasn’t been able to shed the baggage even today. The recent incidents of strike and trade union militancy have turned the spotlight back on the Kerala state’s business unfriendliness. Many of the agitation and protests staged by trade unions in Kerala have resulted in unwarranted conflicts at workplaces and led to the closure of many industrial units. Trade union hooliganism and militancy have stunted the labour sector, hindered entrepreneurship and turned Kerala into an industry unfriendly state.
Laws must be enacted to restrict undue interference of trade unions in labour disputes. The government must create a congenial atmosphere for investments in the state and take measures to end conflicts between businesses and unions.
While sympathizing with the cause of Labour unions, We express strong objection to the hardship caused to the business community in particular and citizens in general by the methods employed by striking unions and wish to highlight the direct and indirect loss to the state.
Disrupting the normal life of citizens by turning the strike into a hartal/bandh like atmosphere in our ‘progressive state’, whereas normal life goes on in other states! It conveys a highly negative (business-unfriendly) perception. Kerala is the only state in India where daily life came to a standstill on March 28/29, said the statement.
CII has estimated a loss of Rs 4,400 crores to the state’s exchequer during the recent lockdown. It is high time that the political leadership discouraged these antiquated practices of bandh or hartal employed for a strike. As the protesters have the right to strike, the willing employees also have the right to work. It is the duty of the government to provide protection to these workers. Government has to curb aggressive trade unionism which undermines efforts to woo investors to the state.
??Kerala Biz News