RSS-affiliate BMS threatens agitations against complete burial of labour laws by states

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 14

The RSS-affiliated trade union, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), has condemned “complete burial” of labour laws by some states, including BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The outfit has threatened nation-wide agitations unless there is a rollback.

Talking to The Tribune, senior BMS functionaries Saji Naraynan and Virjesh Upadhyay said their objection was not about a particular party or a state. It was about the “gross violation” of the laws by governments, whichever party they belonged to, they said, terming it as “criminal” withdrawal of laws in a civilised society.

The ruling BJP’s sister organisation in the ‘Sangh parivaar’ said it was in favour of economy-boosting measures and inviting investments for the same, but not through means and methods such as the “anti-worker” ordinances brought by UP, MP and Gujarat, and increase of working hours by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Odisha.

Migrant workers are the most neglected lot, they said, demanding cash incentives, attractive wages and good accommodation for them wherever they are.

According to BMS president Saji Naraynan, workers’ problems had aggravated during the COVID-triggered lockdown, mainly because of the “gross violation” of laws by most states.

Regarding this being perceived as a sign of a rift between the RSS and its political arm — the BJP — Naraynan said whenever the government did good things, the BMS had always appreciated, “but if they do something wrong, it is also our duty to point it.”

The BMS president said the main focus of the Labour Secretary should be job losses and non-payment of wages.

“These are developing into big livelihood issues in which the government needs to intervene and now. To begin with, it should help by subsidising the wage bills of small scale,” he said.

Meanwhile, terming the freezing of labour laws and increase in the working hours as “unheard in history and rare even in most undemocratic countries”, BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said many other states were readying to follow the trend.

“We are pushed to the wall and there is no other way out except agitation. India is facing an unprecedented crisis but this is not acceptable. Whatever democratic means are available, we will use it. The wholesale burial of 40 laws is not a reform, it will lead to lawlessness. We are not against investment but in a civilised society withdrawal of laws is criminal,” said Upadhyay.

On expectations from the BJP-ruled Centre, Upadhyay said ultimately, it was the responsibility of the government at the Centre. “The ordinances will come to the Centre for the President’s assent,” he said.

Regarding labour reforms, he said they should be done keeping in mind the interests of both workers and the industry.

Upadhyay added that the BMS was also open to the proposal for separate labour laws for the MSMEs, an issue that has been pending for years now.

“It is an old issue, we are open to it but the government should come up with a detailed road map. Even the states need to tell which particular clause is coming as a roadblock, we are ready to understand. The BMS state units have written to all Chief Ministers but only the CM of Madhya Pradesh had the courtesy to meet the BMS delegation,” Upadhyay said.

According to the BMS, migrant workers’ issues had aggravated mainly because there was a gross violation of the Migrant Labour Act by most states.

“Migrant workers are the most neglected lot and are treated as second class. Now, the entire country has realised their contribution to the economy. They should be given cash incentives, attractive wages and good accommodation,” said Naraynan.

The BMS, in its national office-bearers’ meeting on May 13, condemned the total withdrawal of labour laws in UP, MP and Gujarat as well as the increase in working hours by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Odisha.

BMS plan of action

May 16 to May 18: Send letters to district authorities on issues- payment of wages, job losses, relief measures to unregistered workers, migrant workers, self-employed workers, private transport workers, on welfare boards for non-renewal of members, representing stranded migrant labour problems in their respective districts, opposing the increase in working hours.

 May 20: Nationwide protest day: Demonstrations at taluka centre/district centre/industrial estate by maintaining social distance on freezing labour laws and increasing working hours in various states, migrant workers issues, payment of wages, job losses, increase in working hours and also demand job opportunity for the unorganised sector, contract workers of the organised sector.

May 30 and May 31: State/industry/company/sector level conventions on workers’ demands and also demand the withdrawal of labour laws freezing.