BMS asks Centre to stop 'anti-labour' reforms

Unhappy over the Centre's reform agenda, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh

BMS on Friday said "every day anti-worker decisions are coming out in the name of one-sided labour law reforms."

It expressed “deep-felt dissatisfaction on the callous and lethargic attitude” of the Centre on welfare of workers and asked it to immediately stop “anti-labour” reforms.

In a resolution passed at the two-day meeting of its office-bearers in Nagpur, BMS has decided to hold demonstrations at district and industrial centres on July 8 to educate workers on the “grievous” labour situation and give memorandum to all MPs with its demands before the Monsoon session of the Parliament.

It said it would decide on issuing a strike notice at its central executive committee meeting in August in Bhopal.

“...Government is openly identifying itself with the big industrial houses and proposing a paradigm of industrial progress at the cost of withdrawing workers’ welfare. Its ‘ease of doing ‘business’ is tainted by anti-worker content.”

This is being blindly followed by many of state governments. “Thus, BMS is unhappy about the poor performance of the government in the labour sector. Government due to its ignorance has fallen into the trap. It displays its ignorance on tripartite tradition, well-settled labour jurisprudence, objective of industrial peace and international labour standards of ILO,” it said.

“BMS expresses its deepfelt dissatisfaction on the callous and lethargic attitude of the Central Government on welfare of the workers. This is in spite of our detailed resolution on ‘Stop Anti Labour Reforms and Implement Agreed Demands’ passed by the Central Executive Committee meeting held in Hyderabad in February.

“Government has shown least respect towards the promises it has given in writing on August 28, 2015 on the joint Charter of Demands. That is why every day anti-worker decisions are coming out in the name of one-sided labour law reforms,” it said.

It also cited examples of “repeated aggressions” on EPF and ESI, anti-worker reforms, textile policy with anti-worker proposals, maritime policy, NITI Ayog recommendation on PSUs, price rise, banking reforms, negative stand on international labour standards of ILO, inviting FDI offering to exploit the “cheap labour” in India as the government's “anti-labour” moves.