Kerala Labour Minister favours trade union in IT sector

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 09 (UNI) Kerala Labour Minister P K Gurudasan today said the presence of trade unions will ensure the protection of workers' rights in the Information Technology sector.

''We don't believe that the IT sector should be exempted from trade union activities. As a Labour Minister, I am committed to ensure labour laws in all sectors,'' he told newspersons here.

The IT sector was not totally exempted from trade union activities even in Western countries, the Minister said, adding that major players in the IT sector in Kerala had never opposed the formation of trade unions in the sector.

He said the Marxist-led Government was committed to protect the job opportunities and expansion of the IT sector in the state.

Eight-hour duty norms should also be implemented in all sectors of production and service as a matter of principle. It was a fact that many of them had to work beyond eight hours.

The Minister said a welfare fund for the nearly one million people engaged in shops and commercial establishement would be launched here on April eleven by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

The employees would have to pay a monthy subscription of Rs 20 and an equal contribution would come from the employer. Under the scheme, there would be pension, maternity and other benefits.

UNI