The Hindu Business Line : May Day, not 'mayday'

THE weekend witnessed yet another tribute to the International Workers Day, May 1, commemorated in most parts of the world to honour the social and economic achievements of the labour movement. Sure enough, Kerala, true to its tradition of working class struggles and trade union history, saw an enthusiastic round of rallies and meetings to endorse the spirit of working class solidarity and to reaffirm the inalienability of workers' rights.

And for long, investors and entrepreneurs sinking money in industrial ventures in Kerala have been quick, figuratively speaking, to perceive the May Day messages to `mayday' distress signals. For their businesses, they felt, the grave, life-threatening danger comes from the class that vociferously worships May Day - the workers of Kerala.

But, maybe heralding a change in Kerala's industrial landscape, which is littered with closed factories, barricaded gates and a profusion of red flags, two recent developments are worthy of closer scrutiny. The first relates to the handing over of 57,000 acres of tea plantation by Tata Tea to its 12,770 workers to operate and manage on their own. The other being the advent of the Dubai Port International, which has been vested with the authority to build, operate and manage an International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam in Kochi.

True it their cynical style, the local media and public have begun to write obituaries on the Kannan Devan Hills Plantations Company Limited, even before the ink on the transfer agreement between Tata Tea and the workers had dried up. But the workers seem resilient and optimistic about the new enterprise and remained confident of making it into a success story.

Something like this could never have been contemplated in Kerala's landscape a decade back. Similar proposals would have been welcomed with black flags and demonstrations, leading to the closure of viable units and permanent loss of jobs for workers and poverty in their homes. Though it might be puerile to debate on the viability and success of the new enterprise at this stage, they definitely point to a change of attitude among the working class of Kerala - a pointer to the shape of things to come.

The advent of Dubai Ports International to Kerala's shores is an event of even greater import. Kerala's politicians, red politicians included, have welcomed a large international conglomerate to set up shop on its shores. This would have been sacrilege, be it the left, centre or right wing politicians in Kerala, a decade back. Not to mention the workers, trade unions of all hues and colours.

Seemingly, taking heart in the changing industrial climate in the state, the Dubai Internet City has agreed to construct a Smart City in Kochi suburbs at an initial investment of Rs 1500 crore which is expected to generate 33,000 jobs in the next ten years. While the other Southern States hopped on to the IT bandwagon a decade back, this latest move might ensure that Kerala does not miss the IT bus altogether.

The chronic perception of adversarial labour relations endemic to Kerala might soon become a thing of the past. Rewarding professions in IT and tourism might eventually help to eradicate what had been once persistently high rates of unemployment and under-employment; low rates of productive employment creation; unprotected conditions in the unorganized sector; inadequate levels of skill creation and training; an inefficiently targeted social security regime; and labour legislation not matching the needs of an economically liberalizing global economy.

Hopefully, the constant ritual of rallies, marches, conferences and other actions on themes ranging from the defence of workers' rights to opposing wars of aggression and the neo-liberal agenda of globalisation could soon become a thing of the past. So much so that Mayday calls - if at all they are transmitted by captains of industry - are directed elsewhere, not at the offices of trade unions or labour associations.

This again does not mean that the future of Kerala's working class movements would be bereft of conflicts and confrontations. But a method has to evolve from this madness of strikes, closure of factories, loss of jobs and a repetition of this cycle all over again. Dialogues and discussions are a way forward. But intransigent postures and stands have often paved the way for graveyard of industries.

The May Day has become a symbol. A symbol of the unity of the working class, the long road that they have traversed pitted against unkind and sometimes ruthless employers, poor working conditions and even poorer wages. But the world has come a long way since the oppressive days of the Industrial Revolution, when workers were mercilessly exploited to increase capital. Kerala is no longer what it was two decades ago. In future, let May Day be the symbol of peace and harmony rather than antagonism and animosity.

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