BMS seeks equal pay for equal work

Hundreds of RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) members on Friday protested against the Centre demanding, among other things, equal pay for equal work as well as regularization of contract workers.

The protesters took out protest marches from Ramlila Maidan and Ambedkar Bhawan to Parliament in the heart of Delhi to draw the Modi government's attention towards workers in the organised and unorganised sectors.

The marchers raised slogans against the central government.

Later, a BMS team met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and demanded nomination of representatives of labourers and farmer on Niti Aayog, making economic policy human-centric and generation of more jobs by promoting small, cottage and agro-based industries.

The BMS' other demands include increase in and strict implementation of minimum wages in all sectors, increased honorarium and social security for Anganwadi, Asha, midday meal and others, filling up of all posts in public sector undertakings, end to privatisation and disinvestment of PSUs, increase in minimum pension to Rs 3,000 under EPS-95 and ESI and raising of income Tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Jaitley, BMS President Sajinaraynan said the minister promised to look into their demands and take appropriate steps.

--IANS

aks/tsb/mr