NEW DELHI: Severely criticising the special economic zones (SEZs) policy of the Union Government, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) leaders on Tuesday said while the companies would get land and other facilities at throwaway prices, they would violate labour laws and principles of democracy.

Addressing a rally of workers at Jantar Mantar here, BMS president Girish Awasthi alleged that by according public utility status to SEZs under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (Section 22 of which mandates certain conditions to be fulfilled in advance by those going on strike), the Government was mocking at labour laws.

"In the SEZs, none of the laws pertaining to minimum wages, provident fund, contract labour and employees' State insurance will be implemented," said Mr. Awasthi, adding that the policy was an attempt to evict workers, peasants and other residents from their habitat.

Delhi BMS president Chaudhary Zile Singh said in the past five years investments in export zones had doubled but the number of workers employed in these zones had not increased by even 15 per cent.

Mr. Singh went on to add that those foreign companies and entrepreneurs which failed in their countries due to strict labour laws were now coming to India because they think they can get away with human rights and labour rights violations.

Demanding an end to policies like SEZs and sealing of commercial properties in the Capital, Mr. Singh said these lead to large-scale unemployment and drive many labourer families to the brink of starvation. "It seems that the Government wants to remove the poor and not poverty," he added.

Mr. Singh said if at all it was necessary to have SEZs at least 50 per cent of the land should go to agricultural activities and that they should not be exempt from all the laws that are otherwise applicable to any industrial unit in the country.

The BMS has also been demanding that a regulatory authority for the SEZs be formed to look into various issues. Also, only barren and wasteland should be given for SEZs and not fertile land.

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