Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141) - India (Ratification: 1977)

Muster assistants (workers that provide water and medical facilities at worksites) employed through the Employment Guarantee Scheme. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to provide information on the possibility of the muster assistants’ workers to form strong and independent organizations to improve their working conditions and the measures envisaged by the Government to facilitate this objective. The Committee notes that in its report, the Government indicates that this information is still awaited from the State Government of Maharashtra and will be provided once available. The Committee reiterates its previous request and hopes that this information will be provided with the Government’s next report.

“Integrated Child Development Scheme” (ICDS). In its previous observation, the Committee requested the Government to keep it informed of the contribution made by the associations of anganwadis (pre-school nurseries) workers to improve employment opportunities for women and conditions of work and life in rural areas. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that nearly one million anganwadi centres function all over the country. The Government further indicates that All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) was formed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) at the national convention in Delhi in 1989. The AIFAWH has been making efforts to rally the support of the beneficiaries of the ICDS – the hundreds of thousands of women and children belonging to poor peasants’, agricultural workers’ and unorganized sector workers’ families. The AIFAWH and its affiliated unions in 23 states have not only helped in achieving some benefits for the anganwadi employees, but have also created self confidence among these the hundreds of thousands of women workers, most of them working in the villages, hills and urban slums. They have also led to increased awareness about the importance of the ICDS in ensuring the right to food, education and health of children. Members of the AIFAWH actively participate in the joint trade union campaigns and struggles for the improvement of conditions of workers in different sectors, including agricultural workers, peasants and women. The Committee notes this information with interest.

Forest and brick-making workers. The Committee had previously requested the Government to provide any statistics available in respect of the number of organizations of forest and brick-making workers, the number of workers covered, and any collective agreements which may have been concluded in these sectors. The Committee notes that according to the Government, there are 274 unions in the agriculture, hunting and forestry sector, representing 1,311,424 members. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that the brick-making workers, like forest workers, are covered under the general labour laws, and that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the central trade unions, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), brick-kiln workers’ unions, etc. work to improve labour conditions of the brick-making workers in various ways. Some of these workers are represented by such unions as the Lal Jhanda Klin Workers Union (CITU), the IFTU Brick Klin Workers’ Union, the Int Bhatta Majdoor Union (Brick Klin Workers’ Union) and others. While noting this information with interest, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide copies of any collective agreements which may have been concluded in the abovementioned sectors.