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Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006
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Union for IT sector in West Bengal

Special Correspondent

CITU welcomes growth of IT industries

KOLKATA: "Unions do not mean strikes; they ensure workers their rightful dues and also see to it that industry grows," State unit president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions [CITU] Shyamal Chakravarty said on Tuesday.

"There are two categories of employers [in the IT sector] — those who abide by [labour] laws and those who violate them. The association will request the former to prevail on the latter; it is the latter that is out to create a confrontation between the unions and the managements", Mr. Chakravarty said at the launch of the West Bengal Information Technology Services Association [WBITSA], the first association of employees in the IT sector.

"The IT sector in the State is new, so is the union. The sector in both its forms — organised and unorganised — is spreading and now employs between 40,000-50,000 workers ... Today is just a start; the IT sector will grow and the association will be strengthened."

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The WBITSA, set up under the tutelage of CITU, would take up the cause of employees who were denied not just their rights.

"There is need for discussions [with the managements] about their welfare, so that the management can attend not just to requirements of security and transport of the employees but also take steps to take care of their children such as providing facilities of a crèche in instances where both the parents are employed," he said.

There were several IT industries waiting to set foot in the State. "Along with the State Government, we welcome this situation where the State finds itself in the crest of an IT wave with the promise of creating job opportunities for lakhs of people."

He was critical of employers in the IT sector who had scant regard for basic labour laws.

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