BPO employees can form unions: ILO

Kari Tapiola, executive director of International Labour Organisation (ILO), today said employees of Indian BPOs are well within their rights to unionise themselves and national-level unions can also reach out to them.

"All employees, whether in the formal or informal sector, need to have their voice and a bargaining partner," Tapiola said when asked whether the growing number of BPO employees should organise themselves into trade unions.

He said while the national-level unions could reach out and encourage the BPO workforce to organise themselves, the decision to align with a particular union should be left to the employees themselves.

"It is legitimate for them (national unions) to reach out to the employees who will have to accept you. No administrative decision should be forced from outside," Tapiola said.

His remarks are important in the backdrop of the raging controversy, particularly in West Bengal, whether the white collar IT and ITES workers should be roped into the trade unions.

While some left parties want extension of trade unions to the sector, the employers and many state governments have not supported this idea.

Tapiola said according to ILO principles, workers should not be penalised for forming associations. "Employers should, in fact, encourage and not stop them from organising themselves," he said.

During his week-long visit here, Tapiola has met Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes and senior government officials.