While one must rightly condemn these inhuman excesses of colonialism and racism, it is useful to remember that Indian ‘coolies’ continue to be exported to the global market for wage labour. The Indian working class in free India has not been able to resist the temptation of overseas employment given the shortage of employment at home and inadequate remuneration. https://thewire.in/labour/not-slaves-but-coolies-must-confront-questions-government-sponsored-labour-export-raises
The issue of ‘government-sponsored’ labour export has once again made news with the Narendra Modi government reportedly negotiating agreements with the governments of Israel and Taiwan to export unemployed semi-skilled and skilled Indian workers to these labour-seeking economies. As many as ten trades union have opposed this planned export to Israel on the grounds of worker safety since they would be heading into a conflict zone. Such concern and opposition has not stayed the hand of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana.
The desperation of the working class was echoed recently in Haryana’s Rohtak, echoing the agonies of erstwhile indentured labour, where many had lined up to register for jobs in Israel, willing to even work in bombed out Gaza risking their life for a few Dollars more.
by Sanjaya Baru
23/01/2024