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Kolkata: The CPI(M) is facing serious internal dissension on the question of supporting or opposing the Pension Bill and labour reforms proposed by the Centre. The party has also differences with other major Left Front partners on these important issues which are expected to surface in the coming session of the Parliament after the Bihar Assembly polls. The Marxists' response to the issues is crucial for the private industrialists eager to invest their money in CPI(M)ruled states like West Bengal and Tripura and "a wrong signal" from the respective governments may adversely affect the investment climate in the two states. According to informed sources, one of the main factors contributing to the CPI(M)'s dilemma is the growing financial stringency of the CPI(M)-led governments in Bengal and Tripura. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is particularly worried about the heavy burden on the state's exchequer on the pension account and wants to see it substantially reduced in the coming years. He feels the proposed Pension Regulatory Bill, under which the Centre intends to raise pension funds on the basis of contributions made by the government employees and partly invest the amount in shares, will go a long way in helping him tackle the problem. Despite Bhattacharjee's considerable success in attracting investments to Bengal, the state government's financial position continues to be a matter of concern for him as he could not augment enough internal revenue. Major Left Front constituents like the CPI and the RSP are also firmly against the Pension Bill, despite the CPI(M)'s dilly- dallying over the issue. CPI MP and AITUC leader Gurudas Dasgupta feels the Pension Bill will take away the right the workers have been enjoying for a long time. "The government is trying to deprive them of the money they ought to get as pension. Once we accept the new arrangement, the government will gradually the existing social security facilities in other sectors too," he observed. RSP leader Abani Roy also reiterated the Left Fronts resolve to oppose the Bill, saying the party will not accept it even with amendments. "We have rejected the Bill in toto," he said. The CPI(M)'s labour arm, CITU, as well as the party-controlled coordination committee of the state government employees, however, are firmly to the proposed Pension Bill and labour reforms CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat intends to discuss the issues with the CITU, but the latter has already rejected the Centre's stand and threatened a major stir. Ultimately the CPI(M)'s politburo may have to intervene in the matter and evolve a compromise formula which may attempt to keep both the sides happy. Bhattacharjee, however, is not averse to the idea of going ahead with labour reforms in Bengal to project the state to the foreign industrialists as investment-friendly. He finds nothing wrong in the Centre's move and wants his party to support the issue when it will be taken up in the Parliament. However, the CITU has already put its foot down, declaring its intention to oppose "the anti-employee labour reforms proposed by the UPA government." The CPI(M)'s labour arm believes that the Centre has little or no sympathy for the working class and only intends to "protect the owners' interests." "The proposed labour reforms will enable the factory owners to retrench the workers at their sweet will and deny the workers the right to realize their just demands," observed a state CITU Secretariat member. The CITU, however, is not prepared to give up militant trade unionism, to Bhattacharjee's great chargrin. Bhattacharjee took a serious view of the conduct of CITU workers during the September 29 "Bharat bandh" when his wife was publicly heckled by them on her way to office. He has since then made it clear that CITU workers will no longer be allowed to impose any shutdown or strike on the IT sector. Bhattacharjee, however, has largely failed to persuade his party's labour wing to give up militancy. This was apparent when two managers of a sponge iron factor at Barjora in Bankura district were severely beaten up by CITU workers last Sunday. While local CITU leaders have tried to defend the workers' action, the district CPI(M) leadership has taken a serious exception to the incident and urged the administration to take 'firm steps against the wrong-doers.' |
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