RANCHI: The Kendriya Karya Samithi (Central Executive Council) of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has called upon all its units to hold demonstrations throughout the country on August 17, 2026 to mount pressure on the Central Government to resolve the long-pending workers’ problems.
The Executive Council meetings, held in Ranchi in the last week of July, directed all the 28 State Units and 42 Industrial Federations to organise huge demonstrations, rallies, and dharnas at District Headquarters and submit memorandums to the Hon. Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Labour Minister through the District authorities, said BMS in press release.
The long-pending issues are – increasing the minimum pension to Rs 7500/ under the EPS 95 and linking VDA and Ayushman Bharat Yojana; increasing the ceiling limits of ESI from Rs 21000/ to Rs42000/; the EPF ceiling limit from Rs 15000/ to Rs 30000/; appropriate governments should declare Bonus on full wages/ salaries as notified by the new labour codes; increase Bonus calculation limit from Rs 7000/; increasing Gratuity calculation from 15 days wages to 30 days wages without any ceiling limits; Formula based Minimum wages as per the increasing cost of living; increasing the monthly honorarium to Scheme workers like Aanganwadi, ASHA Karmi, Mid-day meal, National Health Mission workers etc .; equal pay for equal work to all types of Contract workers; punish contractors and man power supply agencies for wage theft; Five-day banking system; Filling the vacant posts in all the Government Services; conducting an Indian Labour Conference at the earliest date and restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), reads the press relsease.
The press release further reads that, the BMS is also strongly opposing the IR Code and the OSH&WC Code, which contain many anti-worker provisions. It demands that the Government initiate talks with Central Trade Unions and bring amendments to these Codes. The Central Government and State Governments must revisit their basic concept regarding “the Scheme Workers”. The duration of any Social Welfare scheme will be limited to 10 to 12 years only. How can we say the Anganwadi Scheme, which started in October 1975, can be called as a scheme that has completed half a Century?
Both governments want to take all services from these workers, yet they are still not ready to recognise them as workers, even though the Anganwadi workers work more than 12 hours per day. BMS is surprised that the Labour Codes have not covered these workers.
BMS has also requested the Central Government to initiate discussions with Central trade unions about the future of all the Scheme workers, which cross a 10 million workforce; most are skilled workers. A new policy, as per the changing world of work, is needed. No other country has such a massive workforce in the unorganised sector. So, the BMS demands that the Government work out an exclusive policy suitable to India.
