BMS to hold nationwide protest against proposed labour reforms

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, an RSS affiliate, today announced it would hold country-wide demonstrations against proposed labour reforms of the Narendra Modi government and to press for the implementation of demands raised by trade unions last year.
The BMS, which had opted out of the central trade unions' strike in September last, said it would hold demonstrations at all district headquarters on February 24 to press the government to implement the demands it had agreed to.
"BMS national executive held in Hyderabad has decided to hold demonstrations at all district HQs on February 24 to press government to implement agreed demands and to stop labour reforms," organisation's General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said here.

The proposed demonstration is being planned for the day after the Budget session begins on February 23.
The government had promised to look into various demands of the trade unions, including those regarding minimum wages, contract labour and social security, he said. It had also offered to increase the minimum wages to make its implementation mandatory, among other steps.
The BMS had earlier raised "strong objections" to FDI hike, especially in retail and defence sectors.
The organisation had expressed fear that permitting FDI in retail will mark the end of small retail businesses and cause large-scale unemployment.
"Retail is the backbone of our economy. FDI in this sector will lead to the collapse of the small shopkeepers," it had said. On allowing FDI in the defence sector, it had contended that it was not good for the country.