Govt not ratifying ILO conventions 87 and 98: Kharge

"Government is not ratifying ILO convention 87 and 98 as it would involve granting certain rights to government employees against statutory rules, viz to strike work, to openly criticise government policy and freely accept financial contribution, to join foreign organisation etc," Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge, however, said the guarantees provided for under these conventions are by and large available to industrial workers in India by means of constitutional provisions, laws, regulations and practices.

He further said government employees "enjoy exceptionally high degree of job security flowing from article 311 of our constitution". Government employees also have grievances redressal machinery under the joint consultative machinery and the administrative tribunal, he said.