Pro-RSS union leads protest against labour reforms

MUMBAI: The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is at the forefront of protests against the state government’s pitch to reform the labour sector even as other trade unions plan to demonstrate against the proposed changes.
“We are calling a meeting of all trade unions on January 31. We will plan a militant protest like we did in Rajasthan. We have already sent messages to all the ministers in the state government protesting against the reform proposals,” said BMS state chief Prabhakar Banasure.
In a potential embarrassment to the NDA, the BMS has taken the lead in decrying labour policy amendments both at the Centre and in states. It was at the forefront of the coal strike earlier this month and has been openly critical of the labour reforms in Rajasthan, a BJP-ruled state. The BMS has distanced itself from the BJP government at the Centre.
“We are not part of the government. The Modi government has not even allocated 1% of its budget to social security for workers. Yet it’s at the forefront of these so-called reforms. We agree labour laws should be reviewed but only after a detailed consultation,” said Banasure.
On Saturday, TOI reported on the state labour department’s proposals to overhaul the labour sector with the aim of promoting flexibility for business. These proposals suggest allowing units with less than 300 workers to retrench employees and close down without government permission and reducing the scope of the Factories Act and Contract Labour Act. The former enforces safety guidelines and the latter mandates minimum standards for contract workers.
Unions in the state are opposed to the proposals and will be part of the national protest against labour reforms on February 26.
“Labour laws are not enforced a majority in the unorganized sector. But now the government wants to dismantle protection for the organized sector. Most of the central trade unions will participate in the protest next month,” said Sukumar Damle from the All India Trade Union Congress.