CITU not to oppose SEZs for economic development: Pandhe

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today said it was not opposed to the ''concept of Special Economic Zones (SEZs)'' in the country, if it led to economic development and protection of the working class.

Demanding a review of the laws governing the SEZs, CITU President M K Pandhe told a press conference that CITU opposed ''the very concept of non-implementation of labour laws in the SEZs.'' Referring to China, which had developed SEZs not by private parties but by the government itself, he said the concept of SEZs in India was totally different, which helped only the real estate business.

''We are opposed to converting farming lands into SEZs. Moreover, due compensation is not being given for the land acquired,'' Mr Pandhe said.

CITU had always maintained that only 25 per cent of the land thus acquired, should be allowed to be developed for purposes other than setting up of units, he said, adding the SEZs in West Bengal were different from that in other regions.

''The Bengal Government had given due compensation and also had seen to it that no farming land was acquired,'' he added.

Noting that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government had failed to implement most of the assurances contained in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), Mr Pandhe said all the Trade Unions had decided to launch a nationwide strike on December 14 against the ''anti-labour policies'' of the Centre.

Detailing the reasons for the strike, he alleged that the UPA government had failed to introduce a Bill for the unorganised sector, which it had promised in the CMP.

The Trade Unions had given a number of suggestions in this regard to the Government, but nothing concrete had emerged so far, he alleged. The CMP also promised to bring in a Bill for the agriculture workers, which was still to be addressed by the Manmohan Singh Government, he added. Moreover, the Government's proposal to bring in a new legislation giving the employer more powers, was against the government's assurances, he alleged.

The Public Distribution System had completely shattered, with procurements coming down and prices of essential commodities soaring high, he said.

The re-constitution of the Index Review Committee, which was promised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was still on the cards, he said.

Noting that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector would throw small traders out of jobs, Mr Pandhe alleged that the government, which had promised to create more jobs was today, however, engaged in its reduction.

Regarding trade unions in the IT sector, he said trade unions would be formed at the national level in the near future, as in some states, the IT sector was being organised.

UNI