Draft sent to Comrade Quim Boix GS TUI (P&R) on 7.6.2020 by NCCPA
The TUI (P&R) of WFTU strives to unite the entirety of pensioners and
retirees of the world under its revolutionary banner to focus the attention of
a powerful struggle against capitalist globalization. The pensioners and
retirees of Asia also like their counterparts are under the direct attack of
forces of liberalization. The countries of Asia are generally developing or
under-developed countries and after embracing globalization have intensified
the attacks on pensioners and retired.
Most of the
Governments in Asian countries , having adopted the neo liberal
economic policies at the behest of IMF have already replaced the statutory
defined benefit pension schemes with the defined contributory one,
whereby the employees under these governments have lost a viable social
security for ever. In India, the new scheme was introduced by the
Federal Govt. in 2004 and has now been adopted by almost all provincial
governments except the State of West Bengal, where a communist led government
was in existence at the relevant point of time. The main
objective of the switch over the new contributory scheme was to create a huge
pension fund controlled by the private sector to which a sizable amount will
flow periodically and make it available for corporate bodies at a
cheap rate to maximise profit. Presently the employees who retire after
30-40 years of active service are not even guaranteed a minimum pension.
The privatization spree of Government and Public Sector Services in India is
removing the social security guarantees that existed hitherto. Almost this is
the general trend in other Asian countries too.
As part of the increasing attacks on pension and social security, the rulers
have started to severely attack and snatch the hard won rights of Trade Unions.
Another important aspect of the neo liberal policies is the increasing attack
on labour related rights and privileges obtained through long and sustained
struggles. The labour welfare le enactments are being annulled one after
another. Minimum wage concept is being discarded. The facilities
like health care, housing, social security, recreational etc. which were
mandatory under the rules have been made optional at the mercy of the
employer. The unions in many of the Asian countries have been resisting
these onslaughts through struggles, the details of which are to be catalogued
for a better and wider movement to take shape. In India, the Pensioners
organisations under the NCCPA (National coordination committee of Pensioners
Associations) have been taking part in all the resistance movements organised
by the workers.
Now, taking advantage of Corona, these pro liberalization governments are
imposing new economic offensives on us. All workers and pensioners joint
protests are impossible in the traditional forms at present as large assemblies
are banned. Therefore the Central and State Governments find it convenient to
tighten labour laws. Layoffs and unemployment are increasing. Migrant labourers
are under heavy stress. Work hour protection is likely to be removed.
Pensioners and Employees are facing compulsory Dearness Allowance cuts for
several months in addition to wage cuts. But there is no control over
spiralling prices of essentials. Wage and pension cuts have been employed
freely by the Federal Government as also most of the State Governments in
India in the name of combating the financial difficulties caused by the
lockdown on account of Corona disease. Similar actions must
have been initiated by other countries too . In India, where the wages
and pension is meagre, the cut in entitlements has caused untold miseries
especially for those who are in the lower wage group. In the case of
pensioners the agony caused by such inhuman approach is tremendous as the
pensioners are compelled to bear additional expenditure due to the lock down
for day to day existence and especially for health related
difficulties. This is the general suffocation.
Lack of sufficient public health infrastructure is another common problem in
almost all countries of Asia. Senior Citizens are more vulnerable. Roofless and
jobless migrants are also more vulnerable. There is no proper methodology to
extend financial help to the seriously affected. Asian countries because of
thick and heavy populations are getting the brunt of attack by this calamity.
New forms of protests are required. The usage of all platforms of social media
should be increased by our pensioners organizations and their members against
all injustices and machinations of pro corporate ruling classes. A wider and
strong public opinion has to be created by exposing the discriminatory actions
of rulers in all countries.
We therefore strongly demand by raising
our TUI banner:
1. Stop all attacks on pensioners and workers.
2. Stop compulsory recoveries from workers and pensioners including impounding
and cancellation of Dearness Allowance on par with cost of living index.
3. Ensure sufficient financial relief to all weaker sections and migrant
labourers and retirees .
4. Stop spending billions for Defence annually and start strengthening public
health infrastructure.
5. Stop privatization of Government and Public Sector institutions and
strengthen them as they are the only guarantee against crisis.
K.Ragavendran
TUI (P&R) Coordinator for Asia
