Need to form unions in IT industry

Almost all sectors of economies felt the heat of global slowdown but the most hit sectors are Export and IT. Both sectors saw a tremendous set back and are still struggling to gain the momentum back. India, where maximum of its working youth are IT Professionals has already seen the grey sky and is yet to see more. This data ,undoubtedly, raise a question in our heart that Does India’s information technology and information technology enabled services (IT/ITES) industry, which employs almost two million professionals, require trade union to fight for its rights? Is Lack of trade union the major reason for handing over of pink slips to Professionals without any fear instead of their valuable contribution to the industry?
The need for union in IT industry was first addressed in the year 2000, later it was taken forward by the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU).The leftist trade unions insisted that it is high time the massive industry, which contributes more than 5 percent to the economic output of India, had a trade union to protect their jobs. Services industry (IT/ITES is a major part of services industry), which contributes almost 53% in Indian economy, flourished in India because of its low labour cost. Labour cost in India is almost 15% of that in US. Though because of this wide gap India has generated jobs for thousands of youth but has also brought exploitation, killed entrepreneurship & hampered growth in the other sectors like arts, sports or any other creative field. There is an engineer in almost every house of India today but its very rare to find an artist or a sportsman.
It won’t be wrong If I call IT professionals as labourers of information age. They travel for 3 hours to reach their workplace and work for 10 to 14 hours .This hectic schedule leaves them with very little time for their personal and social life. "IT industry professionals in India are 'cyber coolies.' We are trying to organise them and convince them on the need to form a union to fight for their rights and jobs protection," said Narayan Ram Hegde, who works for the Union of Network International in India. Some of them work even in night that too on meager salaries. They cannot raise his voice and the day they will dare, they will be shown the door. Client is the king; nothing can be done without his consent. This culture is killing the Indian culture indirectly. Working even on most famous occasion like DIWALI depicts very well what the youth is going to tell their kids about the history of India. If this will continue like this, the day is not far when for having snacks and drinking water an approval will be required from client.
Wrapping up of word layoff by Involuntary attrition, increasing transportation charges to more than acceptable limit ,increasing the food charges and depriving employees of other facilities which are usually provided by any company to its employees will keep continuing till an union , which will address the IT Professional’s problems, in IT/ITES Industry is formed. The need of the hour is to come out of our cubicles and raise our voice together. After all it is very well said United we stand, divided we fall.