Statement of WFTU on the International Day against Poverty – 17
October
” Poverty anywhere
is a challenge to prosperity Everywhere” emphasised Philadelphia Declaration
WFTU, the class-based Trade Union International declared war against poverty.
• Almost half of the world’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of 1%
of the richest population. The wealth of 1% richest people in the world amounts
to 11 Trillions $, which is 65 times the total wealth of half of the world’s
population.
• The bottom half of the world’s population owns the same as the richest
85 people in the world.
• Seven out of ten people live in countries where economic inequalities
have increased over the last three decades.
• In U S the richest 1% captured 95% of the post-financial crisis growth
since 2009 while the bottom 90% became poorer.
• The richest 1% increased their share of income in 24 out of 26
countries.
• Children’s death due to malnutrition exceeds 115 mn.
These were some of the findings revealed a few years ago. The inequalities
under the capitalist system of development world over has been causing and
multiplying the number of those subjected to poverty and suffering untold
miseries.
In many countries,” corporates determine the rules, Governments behave
as (bad) referees, enacting rules laid by authoritative capitalism. Corporates,
MNC’s and NOT elected governments hold the power.
A research finding of the ILO (International Labour Organisation)
revealed that half of the workers in the world are not earning enough to lift
themselves and their families over the US $ 2 day poverty line. The obvious
result is” Greeds of the rich met and Needs of the poor not met “‘ The
increasing number of ” working poor ” is inevitably the result of the
capitalist path of development. WFTU’s clarion call is against their lop-sided
developments.
Major crises have major consequences. Earlier, the threat of Great
Depression spurred isolationism, nationalism, facism. The Pandemic affected the
poor, middle class, workers and their livelihoods. Countries with dysfunctional
states, polarised societies or poor leadership have done badly leaving their
citizens and economies exposed and vulnerable. Resultantly poverty increased.
Only large companies with deep pockets were able to ride out the storm, with
the technology giants gaining most of all as digital interactions became even
more important. WFTU’s declared policy opposes this.
The Covid -19 Pandemic right-wing populism, and rising authoritarianism
have changed the world for the worse, millions are unemployed. Many face
malnutrition. Countries and young unemployed persons all have been
disproportionately affected. Deeper social transformation will require
organising and mobilising. This has been the call of WFTU constantly in all
continents.
The so-called poverty alleviation programme and poverty reduction
programmes in many countries remained in paper. More inclusive social
protection and sustainable development, adequate and need based food security
and income security are needed. The needs of the most vulnerable people, youth
workers, migrants, informal sector workers etc to be fought on class-based
struggles, WFTU declares.
The climate crisis is a global crisis that exacerbates inequality across
countries and within societies. A failure to address the climate crises will
impact food security, water supply and the livelihoods of millions of
vulnerable workers.
This is thus a social justice issue and a workers organising issue also.
We need to build activism in the workers unions and wherever possible build
alliances with other progressive social movements.
Migrant labour has been a feature of the development of capitalist
economies for several years. The regimes and employer practices have made
migrant workers vulnerable. Trade unions have to play a key part in protecting
these workers. WFTU’s program had always included the upliftment of migrant
workers.
More than 40 % of countries in the world lack full democracy and
contribute to substantial economies and political injustice. It is necessary to
build transnational solidarity with them. They are denied freedom of
Association, Right to organising and collective bargaining. These are paths
leading to enormous increase in poverty. In these cases Government is not the
solution to our problem. But the Government is the problem; Hence mobilising
the people against such retrograde Governments is immense and inevitable. Our
class operated organisations should be in the forefront of the struggles
WFTU continues its war against poverty ; Needs of the poor and proletariat
will have to be met by all means. Sustained struggles change such governments
whose policies perpetuate poverty. We renew our call to the world working class
and the Toiling masses to stand as one giant force to eliminate poverty.
Struggle, continuous struggle and militant struggles to eliminate poverty and
eliminate such programa of the capitalists and Governments which exploit man by
man and urge upon the world bodies of the United Nations, International labour
Organisation to strive towards achieving Eradication of poverty.
