NEW DELHI: Major central trade unions on Thursday accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government of "blatant violation" of labour laws and said the labour policy being pursued by the Government was against the directive principles of the Constitution.

Speaking at a State Labour Ministers conference here, Gurudas Dasgupta of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said the policy was anti-worker and favoured corporate companies. The `most ominous feature' was the `aggressive mood' of employers and increasing police intervention and brutalities against the workers, he alleged. The police and managements were colluding to curb growing protests of the workers against pro-reform policies followed on the dictates of multinational funding agencies, he charged.

According to Mr. Dasgupta, the enforcement machinery relating to workers' rights had more or less been closed. The labour laws had been so framed that they were easily open to abuse, and the penalties for violating them were mild with no deterrent effect.

He said the installation of the UPA Government and the commitments made in the national common minimum programme roused expectation that the `anti-worker' policies would be reversed and the enforcement machinery on labour laws would be strengthened.

"Unfortunately, these expectations have, to a large extent, been belied and the present Government is continuing pro-reform policies," he added.

The AITUC opposed the Government's decision to reduce the rate of interest on the Employees Provident Fund and demanded its enhancement to 9.5 per cent.

Tapan Sen of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said the impression gaining ground was that violation of labour laws was not "just taking place" but being promoted by the Government.

"I am alarmed at the situation and if workers do not get relief through the Constitutional process, the policies could prove to be counterproductive," he said, adding that legislative initiative was required to negate some of the Supreme Court judgments that were not in the interest of workers.

Others spoke about the increasing endorsement of the contract labour system, discrepancies in the Minimum Wages Act, non-registration of trade unions, particularly in the Information Technology sector, and promotion of special economic zones.

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