CBCI Labour Commission Launches Workers’ Federation

(May 27,2010) The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Labour Commission launched a national organization called Workers’ India Federation - WIF, during a three day workshop that concluded May 23 in Bangalore, Karnataka State. The organisation is created to work for the welfare of the workers, majority of whom, do not belong to any organized sector. The Commission chairman Bishop Oswald Louis in his inaugural message said, “Workers’ India Federation is a CBCI response to unorganized workers of India”.
Of India’s 460 million of workers, 93% are estimated to belong to the unorganized sector and are deprived of legal and social protection. The WIF is a federation of all regional and national workers’ organizations of CBCI. WIF has 8 regional and 5 national movements which are spread over 120 districts of India.
CBCI set up a commission for labour to work for the welfare and rights of workers in the country in 1972. This vision is being achieved through initiatives like trade unions, forums, NGO’s, co-operative societies, etc. They are strengthened through awareness and counselling, to facilitate the workers to enhance their knowledge about government and non-government schemes for their welfare. As a result of labour movements efforts and follow up, the Government of India has in the past few years woken up to the concerns of the unorganised sector. WIF is now a registered body. The Labour Department of the Union Government has approved WIF as an organization for unorganized workers.