Dear Prime Minister,

We, as the Global Fair Work Collective, are writing to you to urge reconsideration of the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (AI-CECA). We ask you to pause negotiations until the Indian Government can improve working conditions for its citizens.

As Australians, we are incredibly lucky to live in a country that promises a fair go for all. That means mutual respect, compassion, and equal opportunity. When we go to work, we can be confident that our government fights for our rights and our safety.

It’s easy to forget, with our tenacious trade unions and rights activists, that others are not so lucky.

In India, 94% of workers are members of the ‘informal economy’ – they’re doing jobs that are unregulated and unprotected by the state. They’re working a 48-hour work week with none of the protections offered by the country’s labor laws.

India has been rated in the top 10 worst countries for workers in 2020 and 2016 by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index. This is a rating system from 1 (best) to 5+ (worst), and India has rated 5 since 2014. Conditions for Indian workers are only deteriorating, with minimum wage now reduced to a quarter of the amount required to afford a person’s daily caloric intake.

At the same time, Australia’s foreign aid spending has hit an all-time low.

Truth is, we forget how lucky we are, and we don’t try hard enough to help the unlucky ones. We negotiate trade deals and pursue our economic interests to the detriment of others. We espouse values of respect, compassion, and equal opportunity – yet our actions are selfish.

What’s a fair go for all when it’s only for some, Mr. Morrison? There are working and living conditions around the world that would be unacceptable for Australians – but our government seems happy to accept them for others.

This is not the government that we want.

This is not the Australia that we want.

You, Mr. Morrison, can make a difference in the lives of over a billion people – in a time where Australia is better off than most. We don’t need a trade deal. We need our government to reflect the selflessness and compassion found in the hearts of so many Australians.

If you go through with this deal as planned, you are condoning the actions of the Indian Government in suppressing the voices and rights of their citizens.

Pause the AI-CECA negotiations until India achieves a rating of 3 or better on the ITUC Global Rights Index. Put pressure on the Indian Government to improve working conditions for their citizens.

Show the world that Australia does not tolerate inequity, exploitation, and oppression.

Regards,

Global Fair Work Collective