News

UNI Global Union is supporting nationwide action to protest at the decision by India’s Cabinet to approve 51% percent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retailing without putting in place proper safeguards and monitoring processes.



Over 50 million small traders across India have put down their shutters as part of strike action aimed at getting the India government to review its decision.



In Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, over 6000 traders have closed their shops. Over 100,000 wholesalers, retailers and small traders in Mumbai joined in the All-India strike action. Elsewhere in Maharashtra retailers did not open their shops and it was a similar story in Thane, Pune, Nagpur and other major cities and towns



Karthik Shekhar, who is coordinating UNI’s activities in India on FDI and multi-brand retail said, “Here in Delhi all the markets are closed and thousands are on the streets. They are strongly opposed to the Cabinet’s decision and are making feelings known, especially their distrust of Walmart.”





Bharti-Walmart, the cash and carry joint venture between Walmart and Bharti Enterprises in India is keeping its shops closed so as not to attract the attention of the protestors.



Meanwhile talks continue between the government and the opposition parties who are calling for a vote in parliament on the controversial decision.





UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings said, “To allow Walmart into India without proper safeguards would be a recipe for disaster. India should take into account the global track record of multinationals, particularly Walmart, and ensure that conditions are put in place that guarantee that communities, workers and the broader Indian economy will benefit from their entry into the Indian market.”





While some retailers, like Carrefour and Metro, have signed Global Agreements with UNI to guarantee fundamental worker rights around the world or are open to global dialogue, Walmart has taken an extreme position against allowing unions in its home country, the United States, where not a single worker is represented by a union among its 1.4 million employees.



UNI Global Union has more than 20 affiliate unions in India representing millions of workers across a wide range of service sectors. UNI represents 20 million members in the skills and services sector worldwide.