New Delhi: A high-level delegation of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) met the Union Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, on November 21.
The delegation submitted a memorandum regarding the implementation of the Labour Codes and the immediate convening of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC), informed the labour union in an official statement issued after the meeting.
The delegation led by Ravindra Himte, General Secretary of BMS, extended its support to the Code on Wages and the Code on Social Security, which are pro-worker and beneficial to all workers, added the statement.
It noted that the labour welfare body considers these two Codes to be historic and revolutionary.
The statement added, that BMS at the same time strongly opposed certain anti-worker provisions in the Industrial Relations Code and the OSH& WC Code.
The BMS urged the Labour Minister to convene the Indian Labour Conference, which has been pending since 2016. It noted that ILC has been a long-standing demand of all the central Trade unions.
The labour union also demanded to increase the Ceiling limit of EPF from Rs 15000/ to Rs 30000, ESI limit from Rs 21000 to 42000 and Bonus Calculation from Rs 7000/ to Rs 14000.
It also demanded to increase the Minimum Pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 7500 linking with the Consumer Price Index and Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
The delegation also demanded an increase in the honorariums of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, ASHA Workers, Mid-Day Meal Workers, and other Scheme-based Workers.
The BMS during the interaction with the Minister demanded that the government should focus on the labour-intensive sectors such as Beedi, Plantation, Construction, Handlooms, Agriculture, and Fisheries, and regularise Contract Workers engaged in Union Government establishments and CPSUs for a long period.
It also demanded adequate compensation through budgetary support for cess-based funding, which was removed upon the implementation of the GST for welfare boards, such as the Beedi Industry.
The BMS delegation includes of former president of the labour body CK Saji Narayanan, Vice President S Mallesham, Organising Secretary B Surenderan, secretaries Girish Arya and Ramnath Ganeshe, and North Zone Organising Secretary Pawan Kumar.
The Minister responded positively to the trade union’s demands and assured that the government will definitely take care of such concerns.
