NB: It is truly astonishing and a matter of dismay that the seniormost court in the country should show such lack of empathy combined with disdain for the most basic right of workers – the right to combine and freely associate for obtaining a better life for themselves and their families. The right to organise is part of democratic consitutions and freedom loving societies the world over; and has been won by painful struggles. These remarks are uncalled for and most regrettable. DS
New Delhi: Ten Opposition-backed Central Trade Unions on Saturday objected to the Supreme Court dismissal of a petition seeking minimum wages for domestic workers, calling it “deeply disturbing”, even as it asked Chief Justice of India Suryakant to to withdraw his remarks that trade unionism is largely responsible for hurting India’s industrial growth
The statement said domestic workers constantly face wage theft, excessive working hours, arbitrary termination and verbal abuse remain ‘outside the scope of any forms of labour protection’, despite their central role in sustaining urban and semi urban households and care economies.
A jointed statement by INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC said such remarks reflect a “class bias” in judicial reasoning, “undermine” the constitutional vision of a welfare state, and are “contrary”to the principles of social justice, equality, and dignity of labour enshrined in the Constitution….
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After the truth-shower 