3 September 2009 Joint Trade Union Media Release

TRADE UNIONS OPPOSE THE 3- 4 SEPTEMBER TRADE MINISTERIAL MEETING HOSTED BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

We the, progressive and democratic Indian trade unions, marched with hundreds of our activists and members, to Parliament earlier today to express deep concern over the present turn of the negotiations on the WTO Doha Round at the ministerial hosted by the Government of India on 3-4 September 2009 in New Delhi. We believe that it will lead to far-reaching tariff liberalization, which will not only severely affect employment and working conditions of millions of workers in India and other developing countries but, also gravely undermine economic development. We are also deeply distressed by the fact that the Government of India has not taken any initiative to discuss these issues with trade unions, social movements and people’s organizations that represent a large number of workers and working people whose life and livelihood will be affected by these negotiations.

Key issues of Concern and Demands for the current Doha round of negotiations:

  1. Publish White Paper on the Doha Round Negotiations: and do not keep the primary stakeholders, the people of the country and even the Parliament in the dark.
  2. Reject the Swiss Formula in NAMA: The present approach to the Swiss formula violates the principal with which it was originally proposed wherein differential treatment in favour of developing countries was aimed at providing them with preferential treatment for development. In the present form the Swiss formula will only further undermine autonomy of developing countries in exercising their development choices.
  3. Discard the Anti-concentration Clause in NAMA: which was added in the December 2008 draft, as it will mean that developing countries will not be able to protect an entire industry, or even significant parts of a sector, from the application of the Swiss Formula. Committing to zero or extremely low tariffs will be detrimental to the development of certain key new sectors and also destroy many of the traditional industries like fisheries.
  4. Remove Negotiations on Non-tariff barriers from Doha Round: since it will be advantageous to developed countries and will bar many products produced in developing countries from entering the markets of developed countries. The US agenda of ‘green’ production if included will keep a large number of products from the developing world out of the markets of developed countries.
  5. No concessions in Agreement on Agriculture: as it will severely damage the agricultural sector which is already in grave crisis. India must withdraw completely from any further negotiations on the Agreement on Agriculture.
  6. No to further liberalisation of services: With an economy in which almost 54% of the GDP comes from services of which a considerable section is in the public sector, liberalisation of this sector would have very serious implications not only with regards to employment but also with regard to delivery of these services.
  7. Protect our Ecosystem and Community Rights by rejecting implementation of Intellectual Property Rights: The issues of protecting biodiversity and traditional knowledge, which once again impacts our ability to create resilient farming and ecosystems amidst food and climate crises have been undermined by the new regime of intellectual property protection and the negotiations, are not moving towards safeguarding people’s interests. We urge the GoI to stand by their position and not dilute it by making the obligation proposed under the treaty merely voluntary rather than mandatory.

In view of the foregoing we call upon the Government of India to closely examine the manifesto commitments on the WTO of the various parties in the UPA Government and ensure that the position that the UPA Government pursues on the WTO is set out in a white paper and discussed in the Parliament. Furthermore, Government must ensure that it does not make any commitments without consulting the parliament and state legislatures and that reference to the legislature must be preceded by extensive consultation with trade unions, agricultural workers organisations, peasant organisations and other social movements.

We the trade unions, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress, All India United Trade Union Centre, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Trade Union Co-ordination Centre, United Trades Union Congress and New Trade Union Initiative, call upon the Government of India to act within the democratic framework of the republic and hence ensure that its actions protect, and do not in any manner undermine, the livelihood of the working people of this country who constitute the republic’s vast majority.

If you wish to contact us, please call: Swapan Mukherjee (AICCTU): 09868890346; H. Mahadevan (AITUC): 09818120885; Shankar Saha (UTUC): 033-22449085; R.A. Mittal (HMS): 09871705105; S. P. Tiwari (TUCC): 09433031343; Abani Roy (UTUC): 09868181566; Ashim Roy (NTUI): 09825027412.

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