or no pay rise , but had to put up with dangerous working conditions .
More than 400 law makers in 34 countries have signed a letter to AMAZON CEO Jeff Bezor demanding the e-commerce giant raise its worker ’ s pay , improve working conditions and pay due taxes where it operates . They also stated in the letter that they stand ready to act in their respective legislatures to support the movement that is growing around the world to make Amazon pay . III . In cotton Fields of xinjiang in China :
Washington-based think tank the Centre for global policy has accused global brands such as NIKE , GAP , and Adidas are using Uighur forced labour in their textile supply chains .
The report referenced online government documents and said the total number involved in three majority Uighur regions exceed a 2018 estimate of 5,17,000 people forced to pick cotton as a part of scheme by hundreds of thousands . Andrain Zenz who uncovered the alleged documents states that “ the labour transfers for cotton-picking involve a very high risk of forced labour ”. But the Chinese administration states that “ of all ethnicities in Xiang sign labour contracts with enterprises based on their voluntary choice of occupation refuting the allegation .
The BBC reported that it had asked 30 major international brands if they intended to continue sourcing products from China as a result of the findings-of those that replied only four said they had strict policy of demanding that sourced any were in china do not use raw cotton from XINJIANG .
Only after the rift between USA and China in trade and other relations , the US think-tank made these revelations of coerced labour in Xinjing cotton fields , which fact has to be noted .
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IV . In Garment Industry :
International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) found that COVID-19 has worsened the conditions of women in the garment industry in many Asian Countries including India due to underlying challenges like discrimination and harassment , under representation of women ’ s voice , wage gaps as well as unevenly shared unpaid care and family obligations . The pandemic has had a significant impact on millions of women and men workers . Workers are retrenched and some of them are still owed wages for completed work , have been unable to access basic necessities such as food , rent money or medical expenses for their households .
As an example to this assertion the agitation of 4,000 women workers in Nov , 2020 of India Resigns Garment Company and Nisha Designs garments company in Parigi Mandal close to Hindupur of A . P . for more than 6 days during Nov . 2020 stands before us . They are seeking minimum wages . While in
Karnataka state the minimum wages were Rs . 12,000 in Andhra Pradesh according to Go . No . 324 as on sept . 8 , 2018 the minimum wage ( basic ) was Rs 6,211 + living allowance ( or DA ). But the workers here are paid only between Rs . 5,000 and Rs . 6,000 .
When these agitating workers approached the State Labour Minister , to settle their issues he coolly stated that “ it is unfortunate that the minimum wages were not being paid to them during and past Pandemic ” and that “ it has been a difficult time for the garment manufacturing units due to dwindling demand in European markets ”. With such a vague reply he evades his responsibilities to ensure implementation of laws . On the other hand the management representatives at a tripartite meeting declared that they are not able to pay for next three months also . people ’ s money and public savings . Thus it is a matter of concern of people ’ s larger interests . Therefore every effort has to be made , to resist and oppose the move to the corporate takeover of the banks !
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LAL SALAM TO COM . SAMI ANSARI
Comrade Md . Sami Ansari , a senior Comrade , the UPSCM of CPI ( ML ) and AIFTU ( N ) leader from Kanpur has departed on Feb 25 th , 2021 owing to failing health and advanced age . He was 81 years old . Com . Sami Ansari was born in 1940 in Kanpur UP . His father was late Com . Abdul Gaffur . He and his life partner late Mrs Naseem Fatima have three sons and one daughter . He began his journey at a younger age as a fighter of laboring masses . He joined the Elgin Mill as a clerk and organized the textile workers into Unions and struggles . He stood by the workers refusing to yield to pressures and allurements . He was arrested twice on false charges . He championed the cause of Elgin Mill who lost jobs with the closure of the Mill . He organized them into struggles and weekly sit in till the last moment of his life . This remains a longest protest action in the life of Kanpur Workers . He is remembered for his earnest concern and dedicated work for the cause of workers and communist Ideology . Lal Salam to our Comrade .
Our deep condolences to the children of our departed Comrade . Viswam
Feb 27 th , 2021
General Secretay CPI ( ML )
Class Struggle