HIND MAZDOOR SABHA

HIND MAZDOOR SABHA
(Established : Dec 1948)

DELHI OFFICE:
120, Babur Road, New Delhi 110 001. India.
Phone:- 91-11-3315519, Fax: 91-11-3736037. Email: hms@nde.vsnl.net.in

MUMBAI OFFICE:
57 D B Pradhan Road , Hindu Colony Dadar(E) Mumbai -400 014. India
Ph: 91-22-414436, Fax: 91-22-4102759. E-mail:- admin@MKI.iibom.ernet.in

Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) is a Centre of Trade Unions who believe

in Independence from political parties, including the Government, in Trade Union

Work. This does not mean HMS is "Apolitical", but signifies its freedom from

Political Control. HMS has a 56 member Working Committee, including Office

Bearers, who are elected in the Biennial Conferences of HMS, Every State,

Sh Manohar Kotwal is the President and Sh. Umraomal Purohit is General Secretary,

who is the Executive head. HMS currently has 16 Industrial Federations.

HMS is an affiliate of ICFTU internationally and of ICFTU-APRO in
Asia-Pacific region. HMS is also a member of SARTUC - the South Asian
Regional Trade Union Council, addressing the SAARC Countries.

MEMBERSHIP
4.5 million workers. Female membership is about 15%; over 2300 Trade Unions
are affiliated to HMS. Major Unions are the Railway Trade Unions all over India,
Transport & Dock Workers Unions in all the 10 major ports, Air India Employees, Plantations in
West Bengal and Kerala & Tamil Nadu, Coal, Textiles, Steel and Engineering, Forest Product
workers, Chemicals, Industry, Seafarers, Electricity etc.

PREVAILING INDIAN TRADE UNION SITUATION

The Trade Union movement in India continues to be under pressure from the New Economic

Policies & attitudes, ushered by structural adjustment programme initiated in July 19991.

The situation has been made more grim by the New World Trade Order negotiated under the

Uruguay Round of GATT. The new GATT deal will lead to joblessness in many domestic industries,

especially those affected by imports (both in Developing and Developed countries), besides

raising prices of basic food stuff, medicines and other essential goods & services.

Trade Unions in India have however put up strong counter pressure
which has succeeded in Government acknowledging the need for social safety net for those
directly affected by structural changes. There is much need for extending the coverage of the
existing (and proposed) safety nets and involvement of Trade Unions. We have to ensure that the
Government actually devotes adequate resources towards social and economic security. Whether
trade unions successor not, remains to be seen; the future is uncertain. Trade Union Unity and
independence from political parties will go a long way in strengthening the labour movement.

There were 52016 registered trade unions in 1990. This organized sector comprises about
12-13% of the total workforce of about 350 million. The presence of such large unorganized sector
continues to pose the biggest challenge to the Central TU's like HMS.

It is of paramount importance to strengthen the trade union movement through :-

forging Trade Union Unity

expanding into unorganized sectors

improving trade union communications

increasing the information collection activities and

expansion of education and Training activities

integrating women workers into trade unions

HMS Activities

- HMS Publications

- International Labour Links

- Computer Capacity Building Links

- Information Links