Sangh Parivar-backed union boycotts SCO meeting on labor issues, faces Flak

The SCO meeting discussed the rights of workers and the issues of performing workers. File | Image source: Moorthy M

The Sangh Parivar-backed trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), boycotted the first meeting of trade union leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday (May 15 and May 15, 2025). Although the BMS earlier decided to send a three-person delegation to the event, it decided to boycott the proceedings in the context of Pahalgam’s attack.

BMS State Secretary Pawan Kumar told Hindu During Operation Sindor, China supported Pakistan and the decision to boycott was accepted. The meeting was organized by all Chinese trade unions. Leaders of other CTUs, such as the All-Indian Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the Indian Trade Union Centre (CITU) participated.

Vidya Sagar Giri, the leader of the AITUC who attended the meeting, said he raised the issue of terrorism in his speech. “My position is also welcomed by other unions. The declaration adopted by the conference condemns all types of terrorism. SCO is a forum representing 45% of the world’s population. As union representatives, our focus is on union activities in the region. The conference discusses issues such as workers’ rights, possible issues of workers and platforms for people working on AI and platforms. Workers’ issues, but Sangh Parivar is playing the political role of Sangh Parivar,” said Giri.

The SCO said in a social media article that the meeting was held in China, which was held on the theme of “deepening humanitarian exchanges to enhance mutual understanding among people in SCO countries” and “enable trade unions to unite trade unions in fulfilling the SCO mission, fulfilling SCO’s efforts and protecting the rights of staff for measures to achieve modern challenges and common development”.

Mr Kumar said the decision to boycott was made at the last minute. “This is to protest China’s public support for Pakistan,” he said. CITU leader R. Karumalaiyan said the SCO meeting was not about India or Pakistan, but about workers. “We attended the meeting based on our understanding of proletarian internationalism. Our representative, Swadesh Debroy, raised the question of Indian workers at the meeting,” he said.

BMS said earlier on May 10 that the SCO is an intergovernmental, economic and security organization established in 2001, focusing mainly on strengthening relations between member states, promoting cooperation in various fields, and maintaining regional peace and stability. “This is the first time that labor-related prospects were discussed at this meeting, which shows that labor is an important part of regional security,” BMS said. BMS added that a three-member delegation of BMS, composed of Hiranmay Pandya, Rajesh CV and Trumppi Alti will join India and now India Compers and India Alti. “We look forward to a fruitful meeting,” BMS said.

At the opening ceremony, SCO Batyr Tursunov’s deputy secretary-general said that the meeting was convened as part of the agenda of the Chinese president, which was a step to implement the decision of the head of state to improve workers’ well-being. “It was emphasized that the agenda of the conference reflected the concept of joint development within the SCO framework and emphasized the important role of trade unions in ensuring the protection of workers’ rights and promoting social justice,” the SCO statement said.