Labour rights will be protected in SEZs: Kerala CM

Kochi, Apr 22 (UNI) Stressing his Government's commitment to protect labour rights in Kerala, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said all efforts were being made to ensure that labour laws were implemented in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the State.

Speaking at the valedictory plenary session of the eighth International Trade Union Congress on 'Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights' (SIGTUR) here, he said ''though there were no regulations or labour laws in the 500 SEZs in India, I am happy to inform that my government had made it clear that all labour laws should be implemented and protected in all SEZs in the State.'' Mr Achuthanandan said none of the PSUs in the State was privatised, but the Government had made 29 PSUs viable through the active cooperation of trade unions.

Continuing his attack on globalisation, he said it had marginalised the trade union movement and trade union rights were denied in many advanced and developing countries.

''The downsizing of manpower had thrown people out of employment and cut throat competition among the manufacturers was intensifying the drive towards cutting down the cost of production through globalisation,'' he noted.

Mr Achuthanandan said the State's limited resources were the stumbling block in creating more industries to generate employment.

The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the congress to offer a platform to chalk out a plan to overcome the negative factors of globalisation.

The congress passed a resolution on Cyprus unification and another on the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Besides, it passed a 'SIGTUR Action Declaration', detailing its plan to strengthen SIGTUR, on labour migration, social security and women's issues.

The congress had accepted the offer of CUT Brazil to host the ninth meet in Brazil in April 2010.

Nearly 200 delegates, including 82 foreign delagates, were participating in the five-day congress, which would end tomorrow.

UNI MA GD PJ AS1505