New Delhi: Major trade unions in India have united against the government's consideration of allowing the export of construction workers to Israel to replace Palestinians who lost their jobs due to the recent conflict in Gaza.
The signed statement was released on Thursday, November 9, on behalf of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and even RSS-affiliated Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) among others.
The joint statement expressed strong opposition to India's potential involvement in what they labelled as Israel's genocidal war against Palestinians
The controversy arose after Israel's construction industry sought the Indian government's permission to hire a substantial number of Indian workers to replace Palestinians whose work permits were revoked following Israel's offensive in Gaza.
A previous agreement signed during the visit of Israel's foreign minister to New Delhi in May outlined the potential recruitment of 42,000 Indian workers, with a significant portion intended for the construction industry.
The trade unions, in the statement, accused the Indian government of playing a "despicable role" in supporting Israel's plans and emphasized that the retaliation of Hamas attacks served as a mere excuse. They urged the Indian trade union movement to stand in solidarity with Palestinian workers, rejecting the idea of sending Indian workers to replace them.
Furthermore, the unions demanded an immediate halt to Israeli aggression against Palestine, the end of the occupation, and the recognition of the Palestinian right to a sovereign homeland as the only path to peace.
The statement also called for a boycott of Israeli products by Indian workers and a refusal to handle Israeli cargo, echoing sentiments seen in some Western countries.
The controversy has attracted international attention, with British human rights group FairSquare joining the call against India sending workers to Israel. FairSquare warned that agreeing to such requests would be a "craven green light for war crimes" and highlighted the serious risk of exploitation of Indian workers if sent to Israel.
The organization emphasized that such a move would support economic activity in illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, contributing to the forced displacement of the Palestinian population. FairSquare cited previous instances of exploitation, such as Thai workers in Israel's agriculture sector being paid below the legal minimum wage and facing unsafe working conditions.
India's foreign ministry responded by stating that Israel had not formally requested the recruitment of workers from India, but it indicated that New Delhi would be open to such an agreement if taken up in the long term.
The trade unions, along with international human rights groups, are advocating for a principled stance, urging the government to prioritize peace and justice over economic considerations.