Working People’s Coalition
Working People’s Coalition is a network of organizations, unions, NGO’s, federations working on labor and labor related issues with a focus on informal sector workers. The network is built around a charter which outlines the leys demands and aspirations of the informal labor movement. It is an independent network, not affiliated with any central trade union or political party.
The National Conference was held at Montfort social Institute, Hyderabad from the 28 to 30 June, wherein more than 200 people representing the above participated in the Conference. It was both enriching, participative and focused with no hierarchy of leadership. At present Meena Menon heads this network, a simple, down to earth lady who is approachable and a visionary.
During the opening session, Mr. Babu Mathew, a well renowned trade unionist addressed the gathering and emphasized the need for WPC to raise pertinent issues of the informal sector. He was of the opinion to organize the different sectors is imperative so as to arrive at the goal and purpose of this network.
It was so designed that different issues relating to the workers was addressed through workshops, offering the participants to join the thematic sessions according to ones choice. The themes for the workshops were as follows: ESI (Employees State Insurance), Wage/ wage theft/ Living wage, Rig and platform workers/ Rental housing.
The discussions were realistic as most of the participants were working on the thematic issues, coming from different states of the country; there were new learnings and inputs that benefited all. This led to call for action and how to address the menace that is taking place with the informal sector.
One of the main decisions taken was a shramjeevi yatra ( Workers yatra) beginning from North, South , East, West culminating in Delhi on the 2, November 2024 – Constitution Day. The various State Chapters were encouraged to get back and plan with their members at state level and choose the state coordinator.
The Yatra will be a demand to operationalising the e-shram cards and to annually deposit money in the accounts of the informal sector to meet the economic needs of the family.
A wide group of all these sectors is a source of hope and ray of light to the informal sector, who struggle to keep the fire burning especially in the challenging months of summer and monsoons, when work is not available.
In the present day realities wider networks is one of the positive and constructive ways of addressing the plight of our people, especially those on the periphery.
I am grateful for this opportunity though I have been rejecting the offers to be part of the meetings physically. Online meetings have been enriching and have been beneficial to make things happen.