Let me first revisit the history of Labour Day. Labour Day started in America and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the workers’ contributions, who vitally contribute to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of a country. Labour movement specifically demanded “the eight-hour day movement”, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
During 1800 era, In
United States, the average American 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in
order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children
as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country,
earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages, (which is still relevant
in India till date).Labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th
century, grew more prominent and vocal. They began organizing strikes and
rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours
and pay (It happened in India too, but got politicized and became irrelevant
for labourers well being but very relevant to build a political career). And
till now it's been celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events
in US and many other part of the globe. Labor Day also symbolizes the end of
summer for many Americans.
Labour
Day is observed as a National Holiday in around 80 countries to honor the
contribution and achievements of working men and women, but amidst Covid scenario
in India, is it really relevant?, especially when labourers who contribute to
many industries, in many states are being treated as “Migrants”, who are now,
none of the states’ responsibility, be their home state or the state where they
work. It’s really painful to hear from states, where labourers contribute to
their economy, have abandoned them to face the COVID consequences, calling them
migrants. The interview of labourers stuck on the roads, due to lockdown is agonizing.
The easiest way shirks off the responsibility, as they are the ones running the
industries and factories making them developed states. And then after all, they
belong to the One nation- India. How does it matter where the people are stuck,
it’s on humane grounds, they should be well taken care of. It feels so
disrespectful, when in your own country you are being connoted as “MIGRANT”,
and disrespected, due to political unwillingness to provide care. On the first
hand they shouldn’t have been allowed to be move out of their working states,
by the state authorities and now, they should worry if these labourers would
return or not, How will industries and factories restart their operation after
Lockdown without these “Migrant Labourers”. The industries who have been
running due to these labourers, for years and years, have been so insensitive
towards them that now these labourers have just become a cost to the employer,
though COVID being once in a life time event but those labourers have given
their ages to employer.
Observing
a day is needed as it reinstates our focus towards the motto of Day observed, but this year’s Labour day in
India has been mocking all the labourers and is indeed a very difficult one, as
the working hands of the nations are homeless, workless, in vulnerable
situation and in pain.
Internet
labour Statue: Wikipedia
Absolutely true!
ReplyDeleteYes, I also agree with you in this post covid -19 Labour's situation.
ReplyDeleteLabour class employees ,they have supposed to be two care takers of his & his family lives
1) His state Government,from where he belongs to
2) Employer where currently working
I think some state Govt like U.P & Delhi ,took Quick action while some state Govt like Bihar ,Maharashtra , response was like snail'Space, which was very absurd .
As example industry like Century pulp and paper ,J.K LTD ,Where Central govt has given clear gudilines for doing only 30 to 40% of it's production so quantity of Labour's requirement are also getting Less for few months .But they have announced that in salary part they can be variables but for three months from now , all jobs are secured .
So ,Both Local govt and employer should understand this vulnerable sitution of Labour class in this pandemic covid -19 .
Very well said Parul.... This crisis has shown that labour's the backbone of the industrial and economic structure as they influence both the demand and supply side. It is time went take a relook as to how we treat them...
ReplyDelete