Nokku kooli is a euphemism for extortion by organized labour unions in Kerala, India under which bribes are paid to trade union activists in exchange for allowing unaffiliated workers to unload their own belongings and materials.[1] This happens with the tacit support of political parties including those in government. In Malayalam, 'nokku kooli', translates into 'gawking wages' or 'wages for (just) looking on'.[2]
Nokku kooli often enjoys a quasi-legal status, legitimized in one case by the Head-load Workers Welfare Fund Board of an industrial zone in Kochi establishing a 'wages list' for jobs that can be completed with machine-driven processes.[2]
The modus operandi is usually as follows: At almost every industrial zone and residential area in the state, worker's unions posts "lookouts" whose task is to spot vehicles carrying goods. Once a quarry is spotted the news is quickly conveyed to all available union members, who then descend en masse to the place where the goods are to be offloaded. Heated negotiations then commence. The leaders often demand extortionist rates for doing the work. Their demand for a "right to work" is often not matched by an obligation to be efficient. So the usual compromise is for pay the union workers a certain amount for just watching - or gawking - while the work is done mechanically or using in-house workers. The employer, of course, loses both ways while making a double payment for the same work - he pays one group of "workers" for not working and another for actually getting it done.[3][citation needed]
You are, say, moving house. The worker comrades demand a prodigious sum to load/unload; so you decide to do it yourself with help from friends. The comrades look on from a distance; when you’re done, they ask to be paid the demanded wages. If you don’t pay up, there is a bit of violence and you get hurt. The revolution in Kerala says the worker must be paid even if he doesn’t work. That is a kind of workers’ paradise even Marx did not anticipate.[4]
Widely recognized as an unethical labour practice,[2] it is cited as one of the reasons for poor industrial development in Kerala. Following a recent change of government in the state, the new Labour Minister Shibu Baby John has said attempts to end the menace of ‘nokku kooli' will commence as part of the department's agenda for the 100-day development program of the State government declared by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.[5] This move by the government has been substantial success and various cities and districts have been declared Nokku Kooli-free.[citation needed]. On 2018 May 1, an official release from the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan office said that trade unions had offered full support to the state government's move to end 'nokku kooli' in the state and 'Nokku kooli' to become history.[6] Unfortunately, the practice continues to be widespread, especially in Trivandrum, the state capital.
Judicial interventionedit
The state government of Kerala's Labour Department has taken steps to end this illegal practice, including depriving implicated workers of their jobs.[7] There were interventions from Kerala High Court stating that case would be filed against those demanding ‘nokku kooli’.[8]
The state government unified the loading and unloading charges in the state after reviewing and revising the prevailing charges. A scheme was launched allowing the advance remittance of loading/unloading charges through State Bank of Travancore branches. This fare would be claimed by the workers from the bank through "Headload Workers Welfare Fund Board" offices.[citation needed]
This scheme was launched in the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), which is declared as the first ‘Nokkukooli-free’ city in the state.[9] The state government is in the process of launching this scheme all over the state starting with the five municipal corporations in the state.[citation needed]Kochi[10] and Kozhikode[11] were subsequently declared ‘Nokkukooli-free’.
A truck carrying heavy equipment for ISRO was blocked in in Thiruvananthapuram in September 2021 just days after the Kerala High Court had reprimanded the state government for failing to effectively implement a law to abolish the practice.[12]
See alsoedit
Hartal (strike used in Indian subcontinent for civil disobedience)
Referencesedit
^. India Abroad. 15 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
^ abc. Outlook. 12 May 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010.
^(Special Correspondent of THE HINDU) (28 April 2010). "News: States: Kerala". CITU opposes ‘nokku kooli’. The Hindu. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
^. The Indian Express. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
^. The Hindu. 4 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
^"'Nokku kooli' to become history in Kerala on May Day: CM Pinarayi". OnManorama. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
^"Labour Department cracks down on nokku kooli". The Hindu. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
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Nokku kooli is a euphemism for extortion by organized labour unions in Kerala India under which bribes are paid to trade union activists in exchange for allowing unaffiliated workers to unload their own belongings and materials 1 This happens with the tacit support of political parties including those in government In Malayalam nokku kooli translates into gawking wages or wages for just looking on 2 Nokku kooli often enjoys a quasi legal status legitimized in one case by the Head load Workers Welfare Fund Board of an industrial zone in Kochi establishing a wages list for jobs that can be completed with machine driven processes 2 Contents 1 Modus operandi 2 Judicial intervention 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksModus operandi editThe modus operandi is usually as follows At almost every industrial zone and residential area in the state worker s unions posts lookouts whose task is to spot vehicles carrying goods Once a quarry is spotted the news is quickly conveyed to all available union members who then descend en masse to the place where the goods are to be offloaded Heated negotiations then commence The leaders often demand extortionist rates for doing the work Their demand for a right to work is often not matched by an obligation to be efficient So the usual compromise is for pay the union workers a certain amount for just watching or gawking while the work is done mechanically or using in house workers The employer of course loses both ways while making a double payment for the same work he pays one group of workers for not working and another for actually getting it done 3 citation needed A Malayalam Writer Paul Zacharia illustrates Nokku Kooli with the following example You are say moving house The worker comrades demand a prodigious sum to load unload so you decide to do it yourself with help from friends The comrades look on from a distance when you re done they ask to be paid the demanded wages If you don t pay up there is a bit of violence and you get hurt The revolution in Kerala says the worker must be paid even if he doesn t work That is a kind of workers paradise even Marx did not anticipate 4 Widely recognized as an unethical labour practice 2 it is cited as one of the reasons for poor industrial development in Kerala Following a recent change of government in the state the new Labour Minister Shibu Baby John has said attempts to end the menace of nokku kooli will commence as part of the department s agenda for the 100 day development program of the State government declared by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy 5 This move by the government has been substantial success and various cities and districts have been declared Nokku Kooli free citation needed On 2018 May 1 an official release from the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan office said that trade unions had offered full support to the state government s move to end nokku kooli in the state and Nokku kooli to become history 6 Unfortunately the practice continues to be widespread especially in Trivandrum the state capital Judicial intervention editThe state government of Kerala s Labour Department has taken steps to end this illegal practice including depriving implicated workers of their jobs 7 There were interventions from Kerala High Court stating that case would be filed against those demanding nokku kooli 8 The state government unified the loading and unloading charges in the state after reviewing and revising the prevailing charges A scheme was launched allowing the advance remittance of loading unloading charges through State Bank of Travancore branches This fare would be claimed by the workers from the bank through Headload Workers Welfare Fund Board offices citation needed This scheme was launched in the capital city of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram Trivandrum which is declared as the first Nokkukooli free city in the state 9 The state government is in the process of launching this scheme all over the state starting with the five municipal corporations in the state citation needed Kochi 10 and Kozhikode 11 were subsequently declared Nokkukooli free A truck carrying heavy equipment for ISRO was blocked in in Thiruvananthapuram in September 2021 just days after the Kerala High Court had reprimanded the state government for failing to effectively implement a law to abolish the practice 12 See also editHartal strike used in Indian subcontinent for civil disobedience References edit When elections come Congress party gets suicidal tendencies Interview with Paul Zacharia India Abroad 15 April 2011 Archived from the original on 1 May 2018 Retrieved 18 June 2011 a b c Men Not At Work Outlook 12 May 2008 Archived from the original on 29 October 2010 Special Correspondent of THE HINDU 28 April 2010 News States Kerala CITU opposes nokku kooli The Hindu Retrieved 9 December 2011 Self Destruct The Indian Express 25 May 2012 Archived from the original on 1 August 2022 Retrieved 1 August 2022 Campaign to end nokkukooli The Hindu 4 June 2011 Archived from the original on 7 June 2011 Nokku kooli to become history in Kerala on May Day CM Pinarayi OnManorama Retrieved 1 May 2018 Labour Department cracks down on nokku kooli The Hindu 16 February 2012 Retrieved 7 September 2019 Implement goonda act against nokku kooli HC Thiruvananthapuram The First Nokkukooli free City Ernakulam is now Nokku kooli free kozhikode to be third nokku kooli free city ISRO truck blocked in Kerala trade union members seek gawking charge Hindustan Times 5 September 2021 Retrieved 5 September 2021 External links editGovernment Opposes Nokku Kooli Asianet News 16 February 2011 Kerala honcho takes on union unloads himself Economic Times 20 January 2011 CITU opposes nokku kooli The Hindu 28 April 2010 1 news from mathrubhumi on 5 April 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nokku kooli amp oldid 1183556514, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
