Dear Comrades,
AIIEA SECRETARIAT DECIDES TO CONTINUE CAMPAIGN AGAINST INSURANCE LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL
The Secretariat of the AIIEA met, as scheduled, at Hyderabad on 12th November 2013. Com. Amanulla Khan, President AIIEA, chaired the meeting.
The Secretariat reviewed the campaign against the proposed FDI hike in the insurance sector since last Secretariat meeting and also the move to disinvest the public sector general insurance companies. The meeting noted with satisfaction that our units across India met 445 Members of Parliament and important personalities from different political parties and impressed upon them the need to resist FDI hike in the insurance sector and the disinvestment of the public sector general insurance companies. The meeting further reviewed the intentions of the government to push the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill in the winter session of the Parliament which will commence form the 5th of December 2013.
There was a serious discussion in the meeting relating to our campaign in the general insurance sector too. The Secretariat was convinced that the proposal to allow public sector general insurance companies to raise equity through markets tantamount to privatisation of these companies. These companies are adequately capitalised and have control over massive assets. Therefore, they have the ability to generate internal resources if required to meet the capital adequacy and there is no justification in permitting these companies to approach the markets to raise equity capital. Instead, the Secretariat demanded the merger of the four companies.
Given the enormity of the danger of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill being passed in the winter session, the meeting called upon the units to intensify the campaign. Apart from continuing with the conventional forms of the campaign like conducting Seminars, Conventions, Jathas and meeting MPs, the Secretariat called upon the units to hold lunch hour demonstrations on the opening day of the winter session of Parliament i.e. 5th December 2013. The Secretariat also reiterated AIIEA's earlier decision to go for One Day Strike Action in the event of the Insurance Bill being passed in Parliament.
ONE MORE OPTION FOR PENSION AND CHARTER OF DEMANDS:
The secretariat reiterated its demand for one more option for Pension. While noting the assurance of the LIC management and the GIPSA to seriously pursue the issue with the government, the Secretariat decided to follow up the matter for an early solution.
The Secretariat of the AIIEA also discussed the issue relating to the wage revision in the LIC and PS General Insurance Companies. The public sector insurance industry performed extremely well in a sluggish economic situation. LIC has established total market dominance both in premium income and number of policies. The productivity of employees in Public sector insurance industry increased. Therefore, the demand for 40 percent wage hike is justified. The Secretariat decided to demand for an early dialogue to settle this legitimate issue of the employees.
The Secretariat while appreciating that the Government had cleared LIC’s scheme for up-gradation of the Regular Part-time sweepers, demanded an early issuance of the administrative instructions. The Secretariat noted that due to efforts of AIIEA, recruitment in the Class III cadre to the extent of 2600 has taken place in the four Public Sector General Insurance Companies.
The meeting noted that the Indian economy is in a deep crisis today. The crisis is both due to the external and internal factors. The crisis is due to the mindless pursuit of neo-liberal policies leading to lack of demand in the economy. The BJP wanted to utilise this opportunity, despite their economic philosophy being no different from that of Congress, and wanted to encash the situation when India is due for its Parliamentary elections in the next five to six months.
Therefore, the Secretariat noted that the proposed March to Parliament on 12th December 2013 by the working class of this country is an opportunity to broaden our struggle by making common cause with other sections of the toilers. It was, therefore, decided that each zone would send two representatives to the Parliament March. The units which are in the vicinity of Delhi should mobilise employees in a big way to make this programme of action a big success. All Units should undertake Rallies/ Demonstrations in co-ordination with the local democratic movements at their respective centres.
23RD GENERAL CONFERENCE OF AIIEA:
The Secretariat of the AIIEA made a detailed review of the preparations being made for the ensuing 23rd General Conference of the AIIEA to be held at Nagpur from 20th to 24th January 2014. Com. H.I.Bhatt, General Secretary of WZIEA reported on the preparations being made for the Conference and informed that a Reception committee under the Chairmanship of eminent Economist Dr. Shriniwas Khandewale was formed on 15.10.2013. Com. Bhatt informed that the Divisional Unit of Nagpur is making all efforts to make the conference every success. The Secretariat called upon all its Units to help Nagpur divisional unit in all possible ways including financial support for the smooth conduct of the conference.
SIGTUR:
The Secretariat noted with immense satisfaction the fact that Com. Amanulla Khan, President AIIEA had been nominated by the CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) to take charge of South Asian chapter of SIGTUR (Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights). Com. Amanulla Khan will be heading a thirteen member Indian delegation to the ensuing SIGTUR conference at Perth, Australia from 2-6 December 2013. Com. V. Ramesh, Joint Secretary AIIEA will be a part of the Indian delegation on behalf of the insurance sector.
The Secretariat of AIIEA appealed to all the employees in public sector insurance industry to observe all programmes of action of the organisation successfully to protect the industry and to strengthen the working class struggles to defeat the neo-liberal policies.
With greetings,
Comradely yours,
General Secretary.
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