Now, Modi calls 'chai pe charcha' with trade unions

Invites all the trade unions over tea on July 19 at 6 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited trade unions for a cup of tea on the eve of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC), where the unions plan to protest the government’s labour law changes.

“The PM has invited all the trade unions over tea on Sunday at 6 pm,” said Virjesh Upadhyay, general secretary at the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh.

Modi is expected to deliver the inaugural speech at the two-day ILC.

Before the PM’s tea meeting, an inter-ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would meet the unions to discuss their 10-point charters. Other ministers in the panel are Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh.

The unions have been crying foul over the non-implementation of their 10-point charter and the recent government’s labour law proposals of the government.

The ILC will discuss labour law amendments, amendment to the Bonus Act, social security for workers and international migrant workers, employment creation and review on implementation of recommendations from earlier conferences.