BMS seeks Centre’s intervention on change in labour laws by states

Vibha Sharma

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 20

The RSS affiliated trade union, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), on Wednesday observed nationwide protest day against “unilateral changes” in the labour laws by 14 states and urged the BJP-led Centre to intervene and issue stringent directions for immediate payment of wages to the workers.

General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said activists demonstrated on roads, roof tops, in front of houses and government offices while keeping in mind the Covid-19 related restrictions.

The BMS also sent memorandums to President Ram Nath Kovind to negate “anti-labour acts of state governments”, including some BJP-ruled states.

The BMS president, Saji Narayanan, submitted the memorandum through the District Collector, Thrissur, while Upadhyay submitted the memorandum at the SDM office in Dwarka, Delhi.

Upadhyay said the BMS was planning a major drive to provide education/counselling and financial aid to workers by helping set up cooperatives and small scale units at the village level.

“Migration has also led to an unprecedented situation in villages and will lead to health, livelihood and social issues that need to be resolved on a priority basis. If this is not tackled well, the fear is crime may increase in rural areas. While society also has to come forward to help, we are trying to rope in influential persons, opinion makers and industrialists for counselling and helping set up cooperatives and small industries,” said Upadhyay.

Wednesday’s protest was against the governments not making available proper facilities to migrant labourers, non-payment of wages during the lockdown period, irregularities in providing Covid-19 benefits, not making travel arrangement for migrants to return to their home states, job losses, increasing working hours from eight to 12 hours, unilateral changes in labour laws in 14 states and against unbridled privatisation.

Protests were held in many parts, including in Jaduguda (Jharkhand) where mine workers protested in pouring rain.