MILITANT workers across the globe will take to the streets and meeting halls tomorrow to fight the scourge of unemployment and demand dignified work.

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) called the international day of action to combat what it called “the biggest, most dangerous problem for the international working class in the whole capitalist world.”

Founded on October 3 1945 in the aftermath of the defeat of fascism, the federation said that International Labour Organisation estimates put the worldwide number of unemployed above 197 million, or 6 per cent of the global workforce, though WFTU said ILO definitions exclude many unemployed and underemployed.

WFTU-affiliated union the Bank Employees Federation of India was due to join the day of action.

“With millions of youth suffering the pains of unemployment, millions of disguised unemployment and many more millions of workers employed on subhuman terms and that too with no job security, the relevance of the slogan in the context of the working class of our country today can hardly be overemphasised,” said general secretary Pradip Biswas.

In South Africa, health workers’ union Nehawu opted to focus on the international demand for dignified work, holding a series of marches across the country to stop the serious understaffing of hospitals.

Pointing out that unemployment is systemic to capitalism and therefore not the fault of the individual, WFTU called for the state to ensure the unemployed have decent living conditions through housing subsidies, free healthcare and utilities discounts.